Last summer, Hubby put together a sturdy 4' X 16' X 12” frame for another garden bed. After measuring out its placement, equidistant from its mates in the row, and setting it in place, we scalped the grass inside the frame with the trimmer. Several layers of cardboard, (boxes saved from our move) were cut and placed inside the frame, then we shoveled rotted manure over that with a soupÇon of grass clippings on top. It fallowed away all summer, fall and throughout the winter. This spring, clumps of grass started to grow, and dandelions speared up through it.
The soil is dry enough to dig
now, so.... we set the frame aside, and over the last two days, I've
dug it out, taking out the dandelion roots and rocks and stones. There is almost no sign of the layers of cardboard.
Yesterday I finished leveling the frame in place, raking the interior smooth and chinking in the outside edges.
This is the seventh bed in the line of garden beds, the eighth one over all, as my asparagus bed is framed in similarly.
The newest bed will be the bush bean bed in its first year, as the soil is always a little coarse to start, and bean seeds are large. As I add compost and manure, the soil gets darker and more friable.
Onions, shallots and some radishes were planted two weeks ago, and slivers of green are peeking up here and there along their rows. Some lettuce and spinach went in yesterday. The pea fence went up yesterday as well, so getting them in will be next. Potatoes are chitted and ready to go in a little later this week.
It's a little earlier than usual, but I do believe gardening season is here!!! I am positively giddy with delight! I'm sure gardeners will understand the feeling of infinite possibilities the new gardening season holds!
Oh, what a LOT of work you did on that newest bed! But, as you know, it will pay off royally with nutritious, delicious, home grown vegetables. Glad to hear your "early" spring season is holding true for you. Ours has gone back to what feels like mid-winter time. :o( Down into the 20s at night and either heavy frost or light snow covering everything in the morning. Maybe our weather is killing off all the weeds, eh? Hahahahaha!
ReplyDeleteThanks MP. Taking a day off today, besides it is drizzling! Raised beds are so much easier to care for, something to keep in mind as the body fades!! Hubby kids me that #5 was the 'last bed'! He asks where the next 'last bed' will be placed!
DeleteWe have had the chilly weather to, but overall, the temp is rising. Tonight is supposed to freeze again, but the long range looks OK. Of course, the more delicates won't go out til late in May, and the vines and beans not until June. The weeds seem to thrive, no matter what the weather!! Have a great day!
We have that discussion here too. haha.
DeleteAwesome, I seriously can't wait to watch your garden grow!
ReplyDeleteItching to get going, but have to be careful, as spring is unusualy early this year, so nothing goes in that can't take a little chilling!
DeleteOur onions are growing like gang busters! I put a good layer of semi rotted straw into the bottom of my newest box. Anxious to see how that works out.
ReplyDeleteOnions are starting to poke up now. Don't blame them from hiding out during this last cold stretch! Garlic is amazing, and weathering all the frosts. My tulip buds are looking a little droopy, but think they will be OK. Looking forward to their blast of red. I'd like to try making a Hugelkultur bed...maybe next!!
DeleteYour beds look wonderful! I know that the work we put in is tough, but watching the beauty of those veggies growing is spectacular! Don’t you just love it when those onions pop through the soil? I have my Calendula up about 2 inches now. We did have some leaves burned off the tomatoes, but they look to be recovering. Looking fabulous!
ReplyDeleteThank you wyomingheart. I think my favourite thing to watch pop up, would be potatoes. The soil cracks, and then the little rosette of deep green leaves pushes up. Glad your tomatoes are recovering! It sure is being a roller-coaster of a spring.
Delete