Loam is the soil gardeners daydream about. It sits in the middle of the texture triangle, roughly 40 percent sand, 40 percent silt, and 20 percent clay, and combines the best of each.

Sand gives it drainage and quick warming in spring. Silt adds moisture retention and a soft, silky feel. Clay holds nutrients and binds the mix together. The result is soil that drains well but does not dry out too fast, that holds nutrients without becoming waterlogged, and that roots can push through without struggle.

What loam feels like

• Moist, it forms a ball that holds together but crumbles under light pressure
• Dry, it is smooth and slightly gritty, not dusty or rock hard
• Colour is usually dark brown from organic matter
• Earthworms and root channels are common

Few soils are true loam. Most are sandy loam, silt loam, or clay loam, leaning one way or another. Growers adjust with organic matter, cover crops, and careful tillage to nudge their ground closer to the ideal.