How to plant a garden?

[richamor]

I know, it seems like a simple thing. But like a lot of things, simpler said than done. And if I'm going to try it, I'd like to do a competent job, or at least grow something edible.

I have a Kubota BX and a Mitsubishi MT372. No plows, no tiller, no nothing for ground work. I DO have about an acre of open field, although it has not been worked in over 30 years that I know of. I still need to get a fence up and I've got one more tree to cut and get the stump out.

A tiller is out of the question right now. Unless I can run up on a screaming deal:laughing. Most likely I will get the fence up this year, get the tree out, buy the equipment I need, and get ready for next spring. Maybe even some late summer/fall crops. Cabbage and turnips and collards. YUMMY!!

Any help/advice would be appreciated.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

If you don't have the funds at this time to buy the equipment needed or if no one in your area is able to plow/till you a small garden I would do raised beds. Get some boards 8-12" wide and make a raised bed, fill with good soil and plant:thumbsup:. This is a easy way to get a small garden in by this Spring! And if you don't want the raised beds next year and have the equipment to till a garden you can disassemble and put the raised bed soil in your garden.

Make it 4-5' wide and how ever long you want/need. Great way to get started and hone your gardening skills!

David

 

[Duffster]

I know, it seems like a simple thing. But like a lot of things, simpler said than done. And if I'm going to try it, I'd like to do a competent job, or at least grow something edible.

I have a Kubota BX and a Mitsubishi MT372. No plows, no tiller, no nothing for ground work. I DO have about an acre of open field, although it has not been worked in over 30 years that I know of. I still need to get a fence up and I've got one more tree to cut and get the stump out.

A tiller is out of the question right now. Unless I can run up on a screaming deal:laughing. Most likely I will get the fence up this year, get the tree out, buy the equipment I need, and get ready for next spring. Maybe even some late summer/fall crops. Cabbage and turnips and collards. YUMMY!!

Any help/advice would be appreciated.

I do most of my gardening with a round mouth shovel and a hoe.

 

[Western]

You may also consider renting a 3pt tiller. Then at least you can give some crops a go and get the feel of a tiller. I venture to bet when you smell the earth and see the plants emerge, you will be "hooked"

 

[schoolsout]

If you don't have the funds at this time to buy the equipment needed or if no one in your area is able to plow/till you a small garden I would do raised beds. Get some boards 8-12" wide and make a raised bed, fill with good soil and plant:thumbsup:. This is a easy way to get a small garden in by this Spring! And if you don't want the raised beds next year and have the equipment to till a garden you can disassemble and put the raised bed soil in your garden.

Make it 4-5' wide and how ever long you want/need. Great way to get started and hone your gardening skills!

David

agreed

google "square foot gardening"

 

[Car Doc]

I hire out this time of year and again in fall to tractor till for folks that don't have equipment and I get busier every year.

So I bet you could find someone in your area to till you a spot say 24x24 whatever (an acre is a big garden!) for now and stick some seeds and transplants when they are available and water it and start enjoying a nice hobby right now! :thumbsup:

fwtw I give myself enough room between rows 2 steps or 6' about so later I can run my rider mower between rows and keep the grass and weeds knocked down, that will help you keep it manageable until you get a tiller of your own. hth

 

[MarkV]

Don't skip this year. Some hand work will let you grow some tomatoes and a few other things.

As you plan for the future look at having a soil test done now. It is cheap and will let you start what additives are needed to balance your soils PH, that can take some time.

MarkV

 

[Car Doc]

A KK middle buster is only about $120-150 and will open up a nice patch and give you actual rows that you can use this year plus you can harvest your potatoes with it using your tractor!

 

[smstonypoint]

Don't skip this year. Some hand work will let you grow some tomatoes and a few other things.

As you plan for the future look at having a soil test done now. It is cheap and will let you start what additives are needed to balance your soils PH, that can take some time.

MarkV

Per Mark's comment, most land-grant universities offer soil-testing services either free or for a nominal fee. You should be able to pick up testing kits at your local Cooperative Extension office.

Also, the Horticulture Departments at land-grant universities publish online gardening guides for their respective states. Check the one for your state.

Happy gardening.

Steve

 

[richamor]

If you don't have the funds at this time to buy the equipment needed or if no one in your area is able to plow/till you a small garden I would do raised beds. Get some boards 8-12" wide and make a raised bed, fill with good soil and plant:thumbsup:. This is a easy way to get a small garden in by this Spring! And if you don't want the raised beds next year and have the equipment to till a garden you can disassemble and put the raised bed soil in your garden.

Make it 4-5' wide and how ever long you want/need. Great way to get started and hone your gardening skills!

David

That looks doable. Looking at the plot we've picked for the garden, I've got a bit more work to do than I initially thought (imagine that), so the SFG may be all we get this year. Not really enough to can, but enough to get us through summer into fall.

I do most of my gardening with a round mouth shovel and a hoe.

In Wisconsin I'll bet that's very likely. Great soil you have up there. Here in the SC piedmont all I have is red clay and white quartz.

Don't skip this year. Some hand work will let you grow some tomatoes and a few other things.

As you plan for the future look at having a soil test done now. It is cheap and will let you start what additives are needed to balance your soils PH, that can take some time.MarkV

I can do that this week. Fortunately there's a Clemson extension in town. I've had them out here before when I had fire blight on the pear trees.

 

[bp fick]

A tiller is expensive, but don't let that stop you from getting started. I am passionate gardener and make a buck or two doing it in a harsh northern climate. I garden 3/4 of acre and do not yet have a tiller and don't know when or if I ever will. Renting one is indeed an option for you.

$140 middle buster and work it, work it, work it. If you can pull a section of c tine drag harrow over it, great. Do you have a walk behind tiller? Those are still useful tools to walk the rows. I use the 3 pt cultivator both as a c-tine drag harrow and as a cultivator. Our land also was "virgin" when we moved in two years ago.

I plant in conventional 40" rows. I use masons grade stakes and brick layer string to set the rows straight.

Each year, with good composting, your garden will improve. Get started!
Yes, there is still no substitute for an old fashioned hoe.
Here's a little youtube video I made last June.
YouTube - Plants2b.mov

 

[richamor]

Nice lookin' garden bp!! I can only envy you that black soft dirt.

 

[bp fick]

Nice lookin' garden bp!! I can only envy you that black soft dirt.

Thanks. But it was just yellow sand two years ago. :laughing:
It's still sand, but now it has two years worth of composting a couple of tons, yes, tons into it. (leaves and I keep chickens)

 

[blueriver]

My 1 bottom plow cost me $50 ... My disc was alittle more $350 and the drag harrow I found for $40

that will do the job.

 

[richamor]

My 1 bottom plow cost me $50 ... My disc was alittle more $350 and the drag harrow I found for $40

that will do the job.

That's kinda what I'm looking for. Wrong time of year to be buying it though.

 

[blueriver]

That's kinda what I'm looking for. Wrong time of year to be buying it though.

Yes your time'n may be off ... they are out there ... just put the word out. Watch CL.

 

[MMH]

A tiller is expensive, but don't let that stop you from getting started. I am passionate gardener and make a buck or two doing it in a harsh northern climate. I garden 3/4 of acre and do not yet have a tiller and don't know when or if I ever will. Renting one is indeed an option for you.

$140 middle buster and work it, work it, work it. If you can pull a section of c tine drag harrow over it, great. Do you have a walk behind tiller? Those are still useful tools to walk the rows. I use the 3 pt cultivator both as a c-tine drag harrow and as a cultivator. Our land also was "virgin" when we moved in two years ago.

I plant in conventional 40" rows. I use masons grade stakes and brick layer string to set the rows straight.

Each year, with good composting, your garden will improve. Get started!
Yes, there is still no substitute for an old fashioned hoe.
Here's a little youtube video I made last June.
YouTube - Plants2b.mov

Nice Pictures!

 

[pitt_md]

Going to miss putting in a garden. Every year i would dump last years compost on the garden spot and till it in real good. That makes things grow like there is no tomorrow! One cantalope plant produced 27 good sized mellons. I don't know if that is normal but I know it was way to many. :laughing:

 

[SandburRanch]

If starting small like a 30 x 50 or so you can garden with hand tools as mentioned earlier and that size can easily be heavily mulched. If all goes well it can be expanded in size most any time. If you get tired tell your 78 year old Sis you need to take pictures and take a real long time tanking a bunch. And of course Bill needs to entertain the dog.

 

[adjusterr]

I have had good luck with a raised bed approach. I layed several inches of gravel on the ground then used railroad ties as the base. Don't place the ties directly on the ground as they will rot within two years. Just like on the railroad, the stones allow water to drain away from the ties so they can dry. Because of deer, I had to fence, drove steel fence posts along the ties and used welded wire, has worked well. Check with your local landfill, ours sells great compost, the end result of their mulch storage, for $14. a ton. Originally I tilled the ground then bought screened top soil, mixed with the compost and added manure to bring the ground level up to the top of the ties. Good luck, you will enjoy the results.