How to plant a garden?

[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.