Starting new Garden

[oldballs]

Seems like you are already terracing the layout....kinda like Andy's. That makes sense to me. Over the years I have used straw to keep down the weeds and washing and hold in the moisture....also makes for a clean area for the kids and ladies to do the picking.

As to the deer, you have already seen the deer netting that I added to the field fence using pvc pipe and zip ties or old bailing twine. At the bottom 18 inches I have added chicken wire to keep out the rabbits and squirrels etc. However my biggest robber is the Coons and a few Opossums. Those I have to trap and dispose of. Rarely do I use Sevin on the Cukes, Melons or Squash, but ain't against it as long as I follow the label recommendations.

Let me see if I can find some other pictures......

 

[Code54]

I recall a very similar view of raccoons when I was a kid! Nice looking garden!!!!!!!

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

We use a combination of raised beds inside a hoop house for crops like broccoli, carrots, lettuce, etc, then about two quarter acre outside patches of conventional garden for corn, potatoes (white/sweet), beans, tomatoes (both those also grown inside). The 1/4ac patches get rotated from year to year with grass grown on the alternative one that year.

Outside garden areas, fenced to keep deer out.

Our raised beds in the hoop house are waist high, so no bending. Tried the normal raised beds before...didn't care for them, decide this is much better way to go. Also, you nearly eliminate broccoli worms, bean bugs, etc, by growing inside, plus the extended seasons let you double or triple crop each year, without additional heat. You can grow an amazing amount of food in a small hoop house...ours is 20x36.

You guys have some wonderful gardens, I am envious. I am curious though, and going to ask what is probably an ignorant question.

TnAndy, you said you plant grass in your garden during it's "rest phase"? I'm wondering, doesn't that increase the depletion rate of nutrients in the garden soil? I'm assuming you're just doing that for weed control?

Can't wait until our relocation goes through and we can plant a proper garden again. You guys are an inspiration.

 

[TnAndy]

TnAndy, you said you plant grass in your garden during it's "rest phase"? I'm wondering, doesn't that increase the depletion rate of nutrients in the garden soil? I'm assuming you're just doing that for weed control?

We plant a fescue/white clover mix, and run our chicken 'tractors' (pens moved daily) which hold our meat chickens or new layers.....they lay a LOT of poop on the grass. Then the whole mess gets turned under for the next year's garden, so the soil nutrition should increase rather than decrease.

New crop of layers:

Another temporary house to raise new fall chicks over the winter so they get big enough to integrate into the main flock. House picked up with tractor forks and move to storage until needed again, temporary fencing removed and garden area used the following spring.

 

[Sonny580]

here in ILL., we can't use raised beds with any success, so its right in the ole ground!--Plow down ANYTHING that will rot.--use some triple 10 or 12 fert. until the organic matter gets up a bit, Fall plowing is a must here. In the spring hit it with the ole 6' King-Kutter tiller and plant!--- THEN start fighting weeds!! LOL!!!------NOW, the varmint problem,---here we have everything attacking the garden!--- biggest thing is coyotes in the sweet corn and melons! thanks; sonny