sandy soil dries almost rock hard

Hi folks,
The soil here is sandy but very very dry. It turns very hard. The former owners of this home left 3 bales of straw/hay here and I'm wondering would this be a good thing to mix into the soil where I am planning on expanding a vegetable garden? The bales are at least 5 years old and have been baking in the sun. The soil here is also alkaline. I've been composting a very small veggie patch with kitchen scraps and coffee grounds all winter but want to expand the patch about 4X bigger. I've dug down about 10". Would adding the straw/hay be a good idea?
2nd question: does the compost have to completely break down before I plant? I'm still seeing a little green lettuce in there. 3rd related question: Can I continue to add kitchen green waste like cut up banana peels and coffee grounds kind of like a side dressing after I plant?

Thanks!

well I went ahead and mixed a bit of the straw in with the dirt this afternoon, then it came to me that is how to make adobe bricks, isn't it? LOL I sure hope all the dirt turning I did today didn't get ruined by my bright idea. sometimes you just shouldn't listen to that inner voice when it tells you to do something

I always mulch my veggie garden with wheat straw and then, after the garden it done, get DH to disk it in and leave it all winter. The wheat straw really helps soften up the soil. I also throw veggie scraps into my garden all winter and get DH to disk them in every so often but I stop by January and begin putting the scraps into my compost bin. I don't think a few lettuce leaves will hurt your plants if they aren't right in the planting hole. Another thing I do during the winter is disk in lots of oak leaves--they also help build up the soil.

Thank you NatureLover1950, that information about the straw is very comforting. DH enjoyed the tomatoes we grew so much last year so I hope the veggie garden is more success than failure. I'm expecting some failure but I really hope to avoid total catastrophe!

angele, our soil is exactly the same. Decomposed hay & straw turned in helps greatly.

Frank

woohoo! good news, thanks!

Afterghoughts. Heavy mulching (we use flakes of hay) significantly reduces moisture loss to sun load and low humidity air. And also too, raised beds.

Frank

Yes, I think I am going to try a little mulching with the straw too, we are extremely dry again this year - we missed every storm that came through New Mexico. I read something about nitrogen loss for a few weeks when straw is mixed into the soil, have you noticed that?

While organic matter is breaking down, it can use up nitrogen. However, that is after it has been worked into the soil. I've never had problems with it as a mulch. I like to plant a cover crop of clover during the winter months when my garden would otherwise be idle. Clover fixes nitrogen in your soil and adds even more when you till it in along about January or so. And it also helps condition your soil.