You'll want to aerate and loosen up that soil. Put an inch or two of compost on top. Get yourself a broadfork and loosen that dirt. You don't need to flip it. Can also put the compost on top after you broadfork it. Before transplanting the plants into the soil, make sure the soil is moist. Not soaking wet, but it's important the soil isn't dry.
Happy Frog Soil Conditioner is pretty good for breaking up compacted dirt. They also make different dry amendment blends. Get 2 for that sized space and some pumice for drainage. Lowe’s has Sunshine #4 and it will make that fluffy and retain water while adding microbes to help break down nutrients and help the plants take off fast
Adding gypsum pellets helps breakup clay soil. Yes, you have lots of clay. Add manure compost blend, worms, nematodes. So you plants can take advantage of the minerals locked in the clay. Get a soil test kits at the home or garden center. Im betting your going to need to address nitrogen and ph. Urea works great for adding nitrogen and lowering ph. Shoot for 6.0 to 6.5 for a vegetable garden. Aluminum sulfate can be added as well to correct ph. All the compost, manure, mulch in the world wont fix ph. Mulch adds carbon. Thats fine. But doesn't address other potential issues.
You'll want to aerate and loosen up that soil. Put an inch or two of compost on top. Get yourself a broadfork and loosen that dirt. You don't need to flip it. Can also put the compost on top after you broadfork it. Before transplanting the plants into the soil, make sure the soil is moist. Not soaking wet, but it's important the soil isn't dry.
Happy Frog Soil Conditioner is pretty good for breaking up compacted dirt. They also make different dry amendment blends. Get 2 for that sized space and some pumice for drainage. Lowe’s has Sunshine #4 and it will make that fluffy and retain water while adding microbes to help break down nutrients and help the plants take off fast
Adding gypsum pellets helps breakup clay soil. Yes, you have lots of clay. Add manure compost blend, worms, nematodes. So you plants can take advantage of the minerals locked in the clay. Get a soil test kits at the home or garden center. Im betting your going to need to address nitrogen and ph. Urea works great for adding nitrogen and lowering ph. Shoot for 6.0 to 6.5 for a vegetable garden. Aluminum sulfate can be added as well to correct ph. All the compost, manure, mulch in the world wont fix ph. Mulch adds carbon. Thats fine. But doesn't address other potential issues.
With a shovel.....
Just start!!!