If you add enough compost - six inches or so - you can plant immediately.

Adding mulch or compost on top of the soil can be very beneficial.

Is this necessary, or could I get equally good results from old soil by adding compost and fertilizer?

Add compost or mulch each year to help retain moisture.

Set in a hole wide enough to accommodate roots when spread out, add compost and water.

"Simply adding compost to heavy clay won't help, if you're not improving drainage," he said.

After harvesting add compost and replant the square with a different crop.

Return to the area now exposed, and add compost or manure to it.

Add compost and other organic material if you have it.

You can improve the quality of the soil by adding compost to it.