Preparing the Vegetable Garden for Planting

May 12, 2017

Preparing the Vegetable Garden for Planting

When it comes to creating and maintaining a healthy garden, proper soil preparation is crucial.

Every year at my farm, we spend a good amount of time preparing the soil for planting. This includes removing debris and old root systems, tilling the earth to break up large clods, building raised, well-aerated beds, and adding organic and nutrient-rich compost. It is a tedious process, but well worth the effort for a successful gardening season.

If you’re preparing your gardens this weekend, I hope these tips and photos help. Enjoy.

: Wilmer tilled the garden with our trusted Troy-Bilt Pony Rear-Tine Tiller. It helps to level the ground as it turns over the soil.

: The machine is set to till the soil at about six to eight inches deep, with no gaps in between the rows.

: Any remnants of vegetables and other roots and vines were removed before tilling began. This makes it easier for the rototiller to do its job, and prevents anything from getting caught in the tines.

: Only rototill when the ground is moist, but not wet – the soil should still crumble when picked up.

: Wilmer did this on a day with little or no wind, which could slow down the process. Once the soil is upturned, determine its condition – too much sand in the soil may make the soil too dry; and too much clay may make it too wet. The soil should be a good combination of earth, sand and clay. My soil is very well balanced.

: This vegetable garden is quite large, so it takes a couple of hours to rototill the entire space, but it’s well worth the effort.

: Wilmer goes over the area very carefully to ensure every bit of soil is turned.

: It looks great after a first pass with the rototiller. Wilmer will go over the area one more time before adding compost, manure and fertilizer.

: Compost helps make the soil more absorbent and is a great way to add nutrients back into the earth. We always use rich, composted manure for all our garden beds, especially when top dressing them at the start of the season. It is a good way to ensure big, bountiful crops come summer.

: After the soil is completely amended, it’s ready to create the garden beds. Building up the soil is the most important part of preparing a garden for growing vegetables and flowers. A deep, organically rich soil will encourage and support the growth of healthy root systems.

: Ryan starts by tying jute twine from one side of the garden to the other – the twine will mark all the raised beds. Our beds are done differently this season in order to create more growing room for our vegetables.

: Ryan uses a measuring tape to ensure every bed is exactly the same size.

: The center footpath is marked with twine. When starting a new garden, rotate planting by changing the location of crops each year. Doing this will further improve the soil quality.

: Ryan then ties twine across the footpath along the entire length of the garden – 22-beds are planned for each side. The benefit of raised beds is the light, fluffy, well-drained soil, which encourages vigorous plant growth.

: Using a simple spade, Wilmer begins to create the raised beds.

: Then he rakes the soil until it is level. Raised beds warm more quickly in springtime and maintain better aeration and drainage.

: While raking the raised beds, Wilmer is careful to mound it neatly, leaving paths in between for walking, weeding and cutting. Look how nice and straight these beds are.

: The footpaths in between each bed are only as wide as the spade.

: Ryan makes sure the width of each bed is just wide enough to grow two rows of vegetables and still reach them at harvest time. When building raised beds, be sure every part can be reached without standing on it. Let this be a number one “ground” rule – never step on the soil within raised beds.

: It takes awhile to do each bed perfectly – Wilmer is a pro. Each bed is raised about six-inches off the ground and about three-feet wide.

: If building a new vegetable garden, test the soil to gain more knowledge of its pH, phosphorous, lime, potassium, soluble salts, and soil texture. Soil testing kits are available at garden centers, or through a local cooperative extension.

: After three days, Wilmer is more than half done.

: Ryan begins measuring where the vegetable plants will go. No matter when the soil is prepared, only start planting when the soil is warm enough to be worked. The soil temperature for planting cool weather vegetables is about 40-degrees Fahrenheit. 50-degrees Fahrenheit for onions and leeks, and at least 60-degrees for other warmer, tender crops.

: Wilmer only has a few more beds to make.

: These look so wonderful – I am looking forward to this year’s growing season. I can’t wait to show you how everything is growing in a future blog.