Considering a larger Vegetable Garden.. no clue.

[shiver]

Hi All,

So, I did something this year that I've always wanted to try, I took up the soil 10x10 in my yard and tried my hand at growing a vegetable garden.

I actually really enjoyed it.

So, I'm thinking about going bigger next year (probably 30 or 40' wide, 50' long.

The problem is, I have no clue where to begin with this larger project.

My plan is to:

Turn the soil before the winter using a furrow plow.

X <-- What happens here? How do I smooth out the
soil?

Plant vegetables.

X is a big unknown for me. Can anyone point me to some reference that might explain X?

Thanks.

 

[shiver]

I'm guessing X is rototiller?

 

[5030]

My garden expands or shrinks depending on what I grow and how much manure I have on hand that I don't give away.

I like to grow cabbage because I always make sauerkraut and onions because I use them in the kraut and potatoes because the onions and spuds keep well in the root cellar.

Green peppers because my wife makes stuffed peppers that go in the freezer. I used to grow sweet corn but it is cheaper to buy it at the farmers market and less hassle.

Rule of thumb (green thumb) with me is I never have a garden too big that I can't keep weeded.

Gardens have a way of getting away from you. keep it managable. I've been gardening for years and only grow what you like to eat. It's fun to give stuff away but it's more enjoyable to consume it all.

One year I grew squash. I hate squash so I gave it all away.

 

[shiver]

Yeah, I just read that a garden the size of 10x30 would feed a family of 4. I'm thinking I may need to revise the sizing a bit, probably 15x30.

I love squash, my wife loves tomatos (I'm not to fussy on them), corn is something we love, I can eat cabbage in moderate amounts, carrots and peas I LOVE.

I have one bell pepper plant in the garden right now to see how it goes.

I'm just experimenting right now with understanding how my soil works.

I wonder if growing mushrooms is difficult

 

[5030]

I wonder if growing mushrooms is difficult

Depends on the type and the medium (manure and nitrogen content). I prefer picking Morrels in the woods.

I gave up on carrots last year. PITA. Same with lettuce and peas.

 

[the fat kid]

We have a garden roughly 20 x 75. I've got 22 roma tomatoes, 3 sweet 100s, 6 green peps, 2 yellow, 2 orange, 2 red, 18 hot peppers, 6 broccoli,6 cauliflower, 2 Brussels sprouts, 8 cucumbers, 1 zucchini, 1 scallion, a 6 onions. We only feed a family of 3 but I can salsa, pickles, stewed tomatoes, and freeze ALOT of veggies with my food saver. And we love it. I spread my rows far enough apart yo till between them then I cultivate between the plants probably two to three times each growing season to keep weeds at bay! Easy peasy for us. Just my 2 cents! Good luck and enjoy!!! 

 

[Western]

Shiver, I'd say your garden size will depend on what you want to grow. Say for instance you want enough corn to eat and some left to freeze. I usually plant my corn rows 32-36" apart, so 3 rows will take up 9'. add a couple of rows of bush beans, or a plant like Zucchini or squash will be broad plants that also take up room.

I would decide what you want to grow and draw out a garden with measurements on paper, so you get a true perspective of the lay out. Figure some plants like corn or beans planted in small numbers will give you maybe one or two meals, where a squash or Zucchini will probably do you with 2 plants of each. I plant more of the plants that have lower production per plant, like corn, but it depends on what your family likes.

You can maximize room with vine plants such as melons, cucumbers by using a trellis and letting them grow up, usually I get smaller fruits this way and on some larger melons I would grow on the ground.

Also, when laying out your garden, consider the growing height of each plant, some require more sun than others and a tall plant like corn with shade out allot, if planted in the wrong spot, not that big of deal, but it will make a difference.

And by all means, buy a rototiller if you get serious (unless you have one) it will cut the work down 1,000% and do most of what you need.

 

[Duffster]

, I just read that a garden the size of 10x30 would feed a family of 4.

Maybe with fresh veggies but not if you want to store anything.

I plant more than a 10 x 30 in potatoes alone.

I gave up on carrots last year. PITA. Same with lettuce and peas.

Lettuce, really?

Lettuce is got to be one of the easiest things there is to grow.

 

[5030]

Lettuce is just as easily purchased. I'm referring to head lettuce not leaf. I do a bit of leaf for salads.

On the subject of tillers and gardens, I prefer a rear tine but a front time (cheaper) works too. Just be prepared for a bucking bronco if breaking hard ground....lol

 

[Duffster]

Lettuce is just as easily purchased.

That can be said about anything grown on the garden.

That said you can't buy at the store what we grow in our gardens.