If "greenthumb" vegetable gardeners have a secret to their success, it's proper soil preparation and fertilization. Experienced gardeners know the potential for producing good yields of high quality, home-grown vegetables is greatly enhanced by a well-prepared soil containing liberal amounts of organic matter and adequate available nutrients.

Cottonseed meal is an excellent means of providing both the organic matter and the nutrients vegetables need. It is an organic, slow-release, premium fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, as well as numerous minor elements. When incorporated into the garden soil, cottonseed meal decomposes over a period of time, slowly releasing its nutrients and forming soil-improving humus.

When starting a new vegetable garden, apply 4 to 6 pounds of cottonseed meal and 1 to 1½ pounds of recommended garden fertilizer per 100 square feet of gardening area. For soil improvement, spread one to two inches of cottonseed hulls, decomposed leaves or grass clippings, well-rotted hay, or other form of organic matter over the surface of the garden. Till or spade the soil to a depth of 8 to 10 inches, thoroughly mixing in the meal, recommended fertilizer and organic material. For established, productive vegetable gardens, each time the soil is prepared for planting, apply the same amount of meal, reduce the amount of garden fertilizer by about one-half and continue to work in liberal amounts of organic matter.