Don't throw away hardwood ashes from the fireplace. Added to asparagus and rose beds in early spring, they will prooovide much needed potassium to those potash-hungry plants. A little judicious pruning of the greenery will make the stems more prominent and will not harm the plant. Old water from an aquarium is excellent for house and garden plants as it is soft and contains natural fertilizer. To avoid making the spoil smell, use sparingly.
Carrots thrive in sandy soil.
To improve your soil texture and increase nutrients add well-rotted manure. Plant lettuce directly in the ground as soon as the soil can be worked. Lettuce prefers soil high in humus with lots of compost and nitrogen to keep it growing quickly. Ashes from hardwood make great fertilizer. When sprinkled around berry bushes and fruit trees they will enhance the sweetness of the fruit.