Colorado

[suncatcher]

Raised beds with mulch is the way to go, I have used this method for many gardens, you will get less weeds too, and with mulch the moisture stays in the ground around your plants. There is a great book out there, I think it is called the "Ten Minute Gardener" or something like that, is all about raised beds, and how to make them, and how to plant in them. When I hear people are using a tiller, I often wonder why????? Yes, you have to add new soil for a raised bed, but is so much easier after that, and you know what you are planting in!!!! Be sure and put down newspaper or cardboard to line the bottom your raised bed, will help kill bugs, and keep the weeds from coming up, another hint in the book.

Have fun in the garden, is a great day for planting.

http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com/raised-vegetable-garden.html

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thanks for the tip about the cardboard. I knew I was forgetting something I had seen about it as soon as I read that.
I have a bunch of pallet size pieces at work that I will bring home tomorrow.
One of the reasons I want to do the raised garden is that DH although he means well tills to the depth the tiller can possibly go. (to deep IMO)
I got a bucket and a half at the landscape supply of plant mix. Sure weighed down the old truck. but only cost me 38 dollars. Way cheaper than the bagged stuff. (Don't tell DH since we got 22 bags of garden soil just to do the butterfly garden.)

I kept thinking years ago we had 6 foot tomato plants and remembered all the soil we had brought in that year.
I am making permanent raised beds out of 2x6 stacked 2 high. I will add another layer next year if this proves to be to low. Sometime this summer I am going to try and build a small greenhouse too.
This very wet spring has spurred me into action. It has been so long since I was able to have a decent garden that I decided it is time to change what we keep trying and failing at.

Edited to add:
Thank you for the link. I went and read it and like that I can just layer on top of the icky weed filled bad dirt. I have access to cow manure (aged) too. Now that the truck is full of plant mix I will probably need to mix that in a bit.
I am not sure about Lucerne hay but I have plenty of straw in the chicken run I need to remove before it gets stinky. I think I will top the newspaper and cardboard with that and then top with the dirt/manure.
Thank you again. I was dreading the big tiller and all the noise so close to the chickens.

 

[Percheron chick]

"I am not sure about Lucerne hay... " That's just what the rest of the world calls alfalfa hay.

 

[21hens-incharge]

LOL now I feel really undereducated. I wonder if using the straw would be ok. The straw I have is wheat straw.

 

[suncatcher]

I think any kind of straw or mulch will work, this was just an example of how you lay down the cardboard.

 

[Percheron chick]

I think you want the alfalfa for the slow release of N as it breaks down.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I was wondering about the nitrogen thing. I can pick up a bale and have it tossed on top of the dirt in the truck to get it home. I can get it just 8 blocks from here.

If we had not had so much rain I had planned on a cover crop of peas to mulch in for the nitrogen.
I was out building the box and heard the hail coming so beat foot it inside. We just got hammered with quarter size hail.
I already had a tarp on the truck bed because I heard we were to get rain. Tarp is tight as a drum so dirt should not become more mud.

 

[Percheron chick]

You should be able to pick up some cow quality alfalfa from last year's crop cheap. We're going to have a glut of hay. You also might be able to find free floor scraps. Those would be really good because it's mostly leaves and fines. Than pick up a big bag for the girls.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Good idea I will see what I can get from the feed store and other sources. Thank you for the idea.

 

[Percheron chick]

SS of alfalfa sold at Centennial Saturday for $2-3.