I'm not sure what you are asking about the soil though. I live in Southeastern, MA-
zone 6 from what I understand.
What you want to do is, watch your soil, and look into your soil...
by watching it, you watch what that area does mostly when it rains, does it flood, if so, how fast does it drain.. if it drains relatively fast after a rain, it should be ok, if it stands for a long time, you may have a drainage problem, and should either do raised beds or make it so that it drains away...
Watching takes time too, several rains and what the soil is like...
And looking at the soil, by digging it and seeing what it looks like, if it's clay, you need to ammend it with some compost and good organic stuff and mix it in, if it's loamy, compost, etc...
Also, maybe this fall, either rototill it up and right now
plant a cover crop such as a clover or winter rye or something to smother the existing
weeds, and put nutrishion back into the soil,
Then it will grow green in the
spring and you till it in, and wait about 4 weeks *I believe* and then
plant... don't
plant too early after tilling it in, as when the cover crop is decomposing in the soil, it will steal away the nitrogen in the soil and not make healthy
plants..
Wow, there's alot of info there, I will keep adding some more tidbits as you go along!!!
Keep on asking!!!
And keep on reading, you can never read enough when it comes to gardening!!!!
Especially coming this winter, soak up all the info you can!!!
Weezie