I’ve never had a backyard, so I’ve been growing vegetables in separate pots. In a few weeks, I’ll be moving into a house with a big enough yard for me to have a vegetable garden. However, since I’ve never done this, I have no idea how to prepare the area. I plan on making it organic, as well. What should I do to the area this summer to prepare for planting next year?
Comments
you need to build a raised bed to keep weeds out. I forgot exactly how high up, but i think about 2 feet is plenty.
The bed needs to be 4 feet wide (no wider) but you can make it as long as you want.Make sure to place stones/bricks along the edges to maximize stability and weed control.
All you really need to do is to till up an area for planting and amend the soil with composted cow manure. Unless you’re going to plant right away, I’d wait until next spring. Get the bed ready a couple of weeks before you plant.
I would hold off until next spring to prepare it. (You’ve got a ton of other move related things to do anyway)
You need to:
Remove grass,
Turn topsoil mixing in peatmoss and manure.
Create hills and valleys,(you plant in the valleys)
Cover the whole thing with 4 or 6 mil black plastic.
Cut X’s where you want to plant.
The plastic keeps weeds from growing, and soaking up your veggies water.
The hills and valleys saves you water, as it will flow right to where it’s needed.
I’ve done a garden this way for 10 years, and the results speak for themselves.
I don’t know where you’re located, but you do have the advantage being able to prepare for next year. Don’t get overly ambitious, or the project will become overwhelming. Determine where you would like to start your garden and dig down 12 to 18 inches, turning over the soil, and removing the plant material. Amend your soil with composted manure and topsoil, which you can get at your local garden center. This will get you started this year, as you prepare for next season. But you can ask your local nursery what seeds you can plant, i.e., lettuce, spinach, radishes, carrots, all kinds of plants will thrive in the fall as the weather cools. The seed packets themselves actually have a lot of information. This fall, collect as many fallen leaves as you can get your hands on. You can mash them up, so they don’t take up as much room. This will be your brown material for composting. By spring, you should have enough compost going to continue expanding your gardens. Have fun!
till the soil and till in organic trash in it. then plant
First, either buy or rent a tiller, and till up the sod in the area you want to plant (The first time will be hard–that’s why they call it sod-busting). My husband then tills a second time to make sure it’s good and loosened up. Depending on the type of soil you have, you may want to add something to the soil to enrich it, like peat moss or cow manure–mix it up with the soil, but a little will go a long way. we plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers and summer squash on black plastic about 2 feet apart. Cut X’s in the black plastic, fasten down the sides of the X’s, and plant the plants in the X’s–that keeps the moisture in the ground and lets the ground stay warmer, too (be sure to fasten down the edges of the black plastic, too–it can take off like a kite in the wind if you don’t!).
We’re planting our corn and beans in rows about 2 1/2 feet apart–the corn seed should be planted about every 2-3, and the beans about every inch.
We’re late getting in the rest of it because of the floods here in Indiana, but get your seed early next spring to check the times that are best for your area–the seed packets will show the zone you’re in, and the times you should plant those seeds.
Here’s a resourceful sites on vegetable gardening, hope this helps.
