What's the secret on how to deal with weeds in the garden? Can't seem to keep them under control.

[aggiemae]

^ thanks for the link ! ^

 

[goodb]

that's the best place to start. If you have questions, I'll share what little I know.

 

[KFCCHICKENUTAH]

Been growing my garden for several months now. NOT A SINGLE WEED!!! I love these raised garden boxes. I think what Ill do is wait till the end of season and then put a lid on the top. Then Ill throw my scraps in there for the next 6 months while its winter and see what kind of compost I have by next year. I think the lid will also help when the weed seeds start blowing in.

 

[aggiemae]

Consider planting a cover crop instead of a lid on your raised beds. A cover crop will crowd out the weeds. You turn it under before it goes to seed (late February here in Oregon) and it decomposes while the soil warms up. Cover crops are a great way to increase nitrogen in your soil.

 

[KFCCHICKENUTAH]

Consider planting a cover crop instead of a lid on your raised beds. A cover crop will crowd out the weeds. You turn it under before it goes to seed (late February here in Oregon) and it decomposes while the soil warms up. Cover crops are a great way to increase nitrogen in your soil.

What type of cover? The winters in Utah get pretty severe(however, not in the last couple years) so it will need something that can be grown in the next month- month and a half. I was also wondering. Is it bad to plant peppers next to tomatos? The reason I ask and perhaps you know is that I planted three types of peppers. I revieved 3 bell peppers on 1 plant and nothing on the others. They didnt grow tall like they usually do in my dads garden.

 

[aggiemae]

Cover crops vary by state and weather- I grow cow peas.

Heres a link for UTAH; http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/HG-521.pdf

You should be able to plant them together. Did the tomatoes block the sun from the peppers?

Try adding minerals and bone meal to your beds in the spring.

 

[Highcotton]

Quote:
If you moisten the soil cover it with Clear plastic the heat will kill the weed seeds in the top layer of soil. You can also kill the very young weeds with a propane burner. Tractor Supply, Harbor Freight and others sell a burner that you can attach to a gas tank from your gas grill. That doesn't disturb the soil and bring up new seed to the surface to germinate.

 

[KFCCHICKENUTAH]

Cover crops vary by state and weather- I grow cow peas.

Heres a link for UTAH; http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/HG-521.pdf

You should be able to plant them together. Did the tomatoes block the sun from the peppers?

Try adding minerals and bone meal to your beds in the spring.

Thanks for the information! Ill give it a shot.
The squash grew over the peppers.

 

[lazy gardener]

What type of cover? The winters in Utah get pretty severe(however, not in the last couple years) so it will need something that can be grown in the next month- month and a half. I was also wondering. Is it bad to plant peppers next to tomatos? The reason I ask and perhaps you know is that I planted three types of peppers. I revieved 3 bell peppers on 1 plant and nothing on the others. They didnt grow tall like they usually do in my dads garden.

 

[lazy gardener]

Check out a book by Ruth Stout. I think it's called "The no work garden". She gardens under a permanent 6" layer of mulch. Not a weed in sight!! I can't say enough about keeping the soil covered. It increases the tilth, I can get into the garden early in the spring, just as soon as the frost is out, while my neighbors with bare soil have wet clay mud pits. My garden thaws out earlier than my neighbors. I don't have to water, while bare soil gardens are dry, parched and very thirsty! My soil gets better every year, and the earthworm count has gone through the roof. The only draw back is SLUGS and snails, however, my chickens are doing miracles in that department.