Ep 5 Sweet Soil with Fabian Capomolla

In this episode, Paul chats with the passionate and knowledgeable Fabian Capomolla – a name many gardeners will know from The Little Veggie Patch Co and his bestselling books. Fabian takes us on a deep dive into what truly makes a successful vegetable garden: the soil beneath our feet.

This isn’t just a chat about dirt – it's a hands-on, practical guide to understanding your soil and building it into a thriving, nutrient-rich base for homegrown food.

Whether you're starting your first veggie patch or troubleshooting lacklustre crops, this episode will leave you better equipped to grow your own.

• Why healthy soil is more important than healthy plants

• How to test your soil type using the ribbon method

• The difference between sandy, clay and loamy soil

• Practical steps to improve any soil using compost and worm castings

• How to test and adjust your soil pH for vegetable growing

• Why pH affects nutrient uptake and plant health

• The difference between soil conditioners and fertilisers

• Common signs of soil problems and how to fix them

• Ribbon test for identifying soil structure

• pH test kits (why they're better than probes)

• Compost and worm castings as soil amendments

• Gypsum for breaking up clay

• Chicken manure and lime for correcting acidic soil

• Seaweed extract and worm tea as microbial boosters

“You’re growing soil first, and plants second.” “The soil is like the foundation of a house – if it’s not right, the whole thing falls down.” “Compost is just like baking bread – you need the right balance of carbon and nitrogen.”

Fabian is a horticulturist, author, and the founder of The Veggie Patch School. Best known for co-founding The Little Veggie Patch Co, he has helped thousands of Australians grow food in their backyards, courtyards, and balconies. His latest book, Growing Through the Italian Way, blends food, culture, and gardening wisdom from his time in Italy.

Follow Fabian: 📸 Instagram – @fabian_capomolla

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This podcast was made with the incredible support of our Local Government partners from around Australia as well as our friends at Backyard Farmer, Pope and Cyclone Tools