Large Garden Plot from Pasture

[HawkinsHollow]

It is too late for this year, but I want to plan on a large ~100x50 garden plot for next year. My little backyard garden is not enough to put up any veggies for the winter and that is what I am striving to work towards. The area where this is going to happen is a hay field that my friend's own about an hour from my house. So the 3 challenges to overcome before next spring are: 1)Beating out the pasture grass and creating a good soil bed that is up to the challenge. 2)coming up with a good plan to beat the weeds 3)making this as low maintenance as possible.

What kind of advice do you have?

 

[bigtiller]

A low maintenance garden an hour away from home.

I like this idea. So, like Ross Perot said in 1992, "I'm all ears"

 

[jeff9366]

5,000 square feet is a lot of garden to maintain an hour from home, two hours round trip. Driving expense will add up fast.

The traditional and best way to begin converting sod to garden loam is to turn the sod with a moldboard plow, also known as a turning plow.

Some would spray the grass with Roundup/Glycophosphate herbicide first, then plow two weeks later. Personally, I avoid chemicals. But my garden is established.

Used moldboard plows are available very cheap.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mouldboard+plowing+with+compact+tractor

A PTO-powered Roto-Tiller is a second option.
Less likely to kill grass in a short time period.
More would kill grass with Roundup/Glycophosphate prior to roto-tilling when establishing a garden on pasture land.
Not me.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=roto-tiller+with+compact+tractor

A Middlebuster/Potato Plow/Layoff Plow is a third option and least costly option but does not turn grass under dirt.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=middlebuster%2C+layoff+plow%2C++compact+tractor

After garden seeds have germinated you need a row cultivator to battle weeds.

Keulavator™ Frame, 3-Point Cultivator

The Keulavator® is a customizable 3-point cultivator frame Garden Bedder for making or bedding rows on your small farm. Design your own Keulavator® today.

www.agrisupply.com

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=garden+row+cultivator%2C+compact+tractor

If you want to go all-in ($$$), Buckeye Tractor Co. specializes in garden implements:

Buckeye Tractor Co -- Online

Manufacturer of specialty equipment for production of vegetables, fruit and flowers. Some nursury and landscaping applications.

www.buctraco.com

 

[JJT]

1) Get the soil tested, add anything that is needed
2) Add as much compost as you can
3) Turn the sod under a couple of times this summer
4) Pick rocks.......

 

[jaxs]

I'm with those who feel the 2 hour round trip is your largest obstacle to overcome. Find someone near you with land but no tractor and barter with them. Start by killing grass and weeds with herbicide then turn them under. Turning live Burmuda,Johnson Grass and other rhizome plants under just spreads and rejuvenates them. It would be a good idea to spread 60 to 100 cu yd finished compost before turning. Disc,harrow or lighly plow surface to kill new plants that appear between now and time to plant cover crop in Fall. Alternatly,you can plant a Summer cover after turning soil.
If there's only annuals growing there now AND soil is a rich loam,you can start right off throwing up tall beds then bust them as new plants appear between now and time to plant garden next Spring. You will need tractor tires on 72" or 84" centers for beds to work.

 

[Yander]

What implements do you have? Assume you have a way to transport your tractor there? Why do you say it is too late to do this year?

Several good suggestions above. If you for sure you are not going to do anything with it this year. Plow it this fall and let it mellow all winter.

Then hit it with a disc or a tiller in the spring. I would do a soil test also.

 

[jeff9366]

I'm with those who feel the 2 hour round trip is your largest obstacle to overcome. Find someone near you with land but no tractor and barter with them.

YES.

 

[tacticalturnip]

It's too late for you to start a garden in Tennessee? Here is am up in Maine, and I can't even get the tractor to my garden plot it's so wet. It'll be mid or late May by the time I can.

 

[Egon]

wondering what you’re gardening experience is?

Harvesting some crops might take a lot of two hour drives.

 

[2manyrocks]

2 hours round trip away is too far. Tomato worms can eat your tomato plants overnight. You'd be so, so, so much better off figuring out how to make your little garden more productive.

We just had our last overnight freeze a week or so ago in Middle Tennessee. I just set out tomato plants this week.