What did you do in the garden today?

[NanaKat]

Wow, that is impressive! How long have you lived there?

We have been here now for 19 years. We leveled the clay ground and then built up the beds by hauling in good loam from the back pasture. We planted them the first year and then built and added the boxes later in the summer. The boxes were back filled around the plants. That means the boxes are 19 years old!
After pulling the plants after the first hard freeze we used cow manure and shredded leaves to fill the boxes and turned it to mix...an old cement mixer was a big help too.
Every year, I add compost. The beds are now filled to within two inches from the top. This allows room for straw mulch.

 

[NanaKat]

Ok, you saw my other post of the old picture of the garden and here is the update. You can tell there are twice as many beds, the garden is fenced, and the black brooder is in there if you look hard. Lots more green, though i still have to dig up and amend the bed on the left. And then plant more seeds

Really nice set up! You will be so pleased with the drainage from the beds as they grow deeper. The worms will come too to help convert the compost to plant nutrients.

 

[CapricornFarm]

There are already worms here, they seem to live in the leaf litter rather than fight through the clay soil. I am all for getting them to help.

 

[CapricornFarm]

The goats and rabbits will be adding good stuff for the soil too. Just need fencing, buildings etc.

 

[karenerwin]

We have used raised beds in three gardens now.
I have back issues so I can sit on the side of the bed and still weed the beds. Also drainage is great.
I have 16 beds that are 4 x 16, one that is 20 by 16 for vining crops like cantaloup, watermelon, or row crops corn or okra.
The 12 inch tall boxes are 4 x 16 feet made from treated lumber and I can put a 16 foot cattle panel down the middle on three T-posts for tying tomatoes, peppers, eggplant or for vining cucumbers, peas and beans.
I also have beds that are 5 foot wide that are on a diagonal fence so the lengths go from 8 foot to 23 foot long. These beds also house more permanent crops like asparagus and some of my daylilies and iris.
The elderberry are planted on the north edge of the 16 x 20 foot bed and are tied to a 16 foot cattle panel to keep them from bowing to the ground.
Here is the garden in 2012 both spring and winter so you can see the initial layout of 7 foot wide path between rows of boxes. There is 5 feet between the boxes so I can get the mower and weed wacker in for the grass.

Thanks! This was super helpful! My hubby wondered if the 12 inches tall is enough to keep out rabbits? He always likes to make things really big which is often overkill.

Planted some beets and swiss chard after treating it with a "seed starter" soak. (vinegar, water and a bit of dish soap.) This concoction is supposed to speed germination. we'll see. I also used it on cilantro, and New Zealand Spinach.

That's an interesting "seed starter" recipe. Let us know if you think it works.

I picked some cherry tomatoes then it poured the rest of the day.

 

[CapricornFarm]

In the driveway today when we got back, there was a tortoise!

 

[jerryse]

Before it got hot I put a fence around the emerging green beans . Second try as rabbits ate the first ones .

 

[NorthTexasWink]

Rained again last night and this morning. Now thunderheads and thunder. Between the storms I harvested, potted up some cuttings, trimmed up the tomatoes. Fungus is getting to them with all the heavy rains, even in my well drained raised beds. Went inside to clean the brooder and rearranged things in there. Removed the heat mat, as that room is still staying 84-98 F. Gave them a couple of huddle boxes. Two feeders and two waterers. All 25 growing and active. No more poopy butts.

 

[Pensmaster]

Rained again last night and this morning. Now thunderheads and thunder. Between the storms I harvested, potted up some cuttings, trimmed up the tomatoes. Fungus is getting to them with all the heavy rains, even in my well drained raised beds. Went inside to clean the brooder and rearranged things in there. Removed the heat mat, as that room is still staying 84-98 F. Gave them a couple of huddle boxes. Two feeders and two waterers. All 25 growing and active. No more poopy butts.

Haven't been home to do anything in the garden. I watered it last night. Have a tomato or two to harvest for tonight
We have thunderheads in the mountains as well but no rain. Dangerous situation.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

@Pensmaster Y'all please stay alert and be safe. Had a friend lose his home in a wildfire in Malibu. Luckily everyone there, including animals, all safe.