Two weeks later, this is what the new garden bed looks like. We had 6mil black plastic on it to help kill off any weeds, after tilling. I am very impressed with how much it killed off.
In this close up shot you can see the dead crabgrass...or so you would think. Only the surface is dead. If you know anything about crabgrass, you know that it goes on forever under the soil, and you can't completely kill it off. My goal is to keep it in check, and eventually keep it from reseeding.
To help break this matted mess up, we decided to till the area again. This helps tear off the dead stuff, so we can get the bulk of it out of the garden. Crabgrass is also known as "wiregrass" down here in NC, and you will know why when it's dried and dead. It will cut your fingers, and tangle into everything.
To help break this matted mess up, we decided to till the area again. This helps tear off the dead stuff, so we can get the bulk of it out of the garden. Crabgrass is also known as "wiregrass" down here in NC, and you will know why when it's dried and dead. It will cut your fingers, and tangle into everything.
At first glance, this dirt seemed to be the best we have seen on this property. Darker than the rest, until you go down a few inches, then it is hard packed clay. To help the plants grow better, I added two bags of topsoil to the rows, along with half a bag of compost. I chose Garden Pro, that I picked up a Lowe's. I prefer this brand for our property because the top soil has a lot of sand in it, which will help with drainage. And over time, as we replant rows when the first crops are done, it will work down into the clay and help improve it.
So as Tom tilled for the new rows in this bed, I made the rows. Each row is 30" wide, with an 18" walkway between. This is the size that is recommended by both Eliot Coleman and Jean-Martin Fortier in their books. It's a manageable size to be working over, feet straddled on either side when weeding or harvesting. I always test this theory, because I am not a 6ft man. I have long legs for a 5ft 3in person, but I don't want to be doing splits lol. It worked well. I measured my row, and used a rope to help me keep the size correct as I pulled the soil from the walkway that followed, to help build up the row a bit. Then it got the top soil and composted manure. Then it was on to measuring off the next row. In total we got four rows out of this bed, each measuring 50ft long.
My plots are going to be smaller than what is mentioned in the books, because I have to have an area for the goats to browse. Currently we will set up beds on the side of the property closest to the driveway. That is also for eye appeal for our wonderful customers that we plan to have for the farm stand. They can see as they come in to buy our produce, what we are doing. That is important I think.
So what was the first thing to get planted?
So as Tom tilled for the new rows in this bed, I made the rows. Each row is 30" wide, with an 18" walkway between. This is the size that is recommended by both Eliot Coleman and Jean-Martin Fortier in their books. It's a manageable size to be working over, feet straddled on either side when weeding or harvesting. I always test this theory, because I am not a 6ft man. I have long legs for a 5ft 3in person, but I don't want to be doing splits lol. It worked well. I measured my row, and used a rope to help me keep the size correct as I pulled the soil from the walkway that followed, to help build up the row a bit. Then it got the top soil and composted manure. Then it was on to measuring off the next row. In total we got four rows out of this bed, each measuring 50ft long.
My plots are going to be smaller than what is mentioned in the books, because I have to have an area for the goats to browse. Currently we will set up beds on the side of the property closest to the driveway. That is also for eye appeal for our wonderful customers that we plan to have for the farm stand. They can see as they come in to buy our produce, what we are doing. That is important I think.
So what was the first thing to get planted?
36 Pepper plants! I will give them a week or two to get some more height on them, the we will underseed with lettuce. This will maximize our growing area, and also help to keep weeds away (God willing!). It's going to be a battle with the crabgrass, but if we are vigilant, it should work. And if we need to, I will get plastic down on the walkways to help.