Gardening

[Runner Coug]

I've decided the time has come for my family to start being more self sufficient. I have almost a half acre backyard, and I'm going to put in a garden. Problem is, I don't know what I'm doing. My parents used to have a garden, but my only interaction with it was being pissed off when my dad would make me go out and pull weeds.

I'm going to go find a book at the library that might help me out, but was wondering if any of you have any tips for the first timer.

[MikeWaters]

this is the kind of question where when you have chosen not to provide your location, then people are less inclined to want to assist you.

[FarrahWaters]

Newspaper mulch. Keeps way down on the weeding.

[Mormon Red Death]

Originally Posted by Runner Coug

I've decided the time has come for my family to start being more self sufficient. I have almost a half acre backyard, and I'm going to put in a garden. Problem is, I don't know what I'm doing. My parents used to have a garden, but my only interaction with it was being pissed off when my dad would make me go out and pull weeds.

I'm going to go find a book at the library that might help me out, but was wondering if any of you have any tips for the first timer.

I am half way done building my raised beds:

I've decided that I want a serious vegetable garden this year. Using this plan I will be making raised beds similar to this photo. I will post the finished project in a couple of weeks. The goal is to have the garden planted and ready to go by the end of April. So far it has been really easy

http://www.sunset.com/sunset/garden/...152183,00.html

[Runner Coug]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

this is the kind of question where when you have chosen not to provide your location, then people are less inclined to want to assist you.

Not providing my location was never really a choice I made as much as it never even crossed my mind. But I'm in Riverton, UT.

[Runner Coug]

Originally Posted by FarrahWaters

Newspaper mulch. Keeps way down on the weeding.

I'll try that. Thanks for the tip.

[bluegoose]

I'm not sure what the soil is like in your area, but here we have a lot of clay and riverbed rock. So a raised bed is a must for us. Every year we bring in more garden soil. I've never used any chicken manure before, but most people say it makes a big difference.

Soaker hoses on a yard timer are nice, if thats an option for you.

Other than that, we don't get very creative with ours. We have 3 raised bed at 12'x8' each. Lots of tomatoes and peppers for salsa, beans and peas, onions, melons, squash, lettuce.

Just make sure you don't put them in too early, meaning no more overnight frost.

[Runner Coug]

Originally Posted by bluegoose

I'm not sure what the soil is like in your area, but here we have a lot of clay and riverbed rock. So a raised bed is a must for us. Every year we bring in more garden soil. I've never used any chicken manure before, but most people say it makes a big difference.

Soaker hoses on a yard timer are nice, if thats an option for you.

Other than that, we don't get very creative with ours. We have 3 raised bed at 12'x8' each. Lots of tomatoes and peppers for salsa, beans and peas, onions, melons, squash, lettuce.

Just make sure you don't put them in too early, meaning no more overnight frost.

I like the raised beds idea you guys are talking about. How deep do you make them?

[bluegoose]

Originally Posted by Runner Coug

I like the raised beds idea you guys are talking about. How deep do you make them?

I think 6 or 8 inches is probably plenty.