Gardening

[tripleup05]

Hello all. I'm basically a beginning gardener. I come from a history of farmers, and my dad and I plant a 1/2 garden every year at his house, but I know very little about it. I do the plowing every year because I enjoy it, but he basically does everything else.

My wife has it in her head that she wants to garden at our house. I can create a 10'x20' garden easily in my backyard. My dad, who grew up farming, but only started gardening again four years ago, says the soil will be no good where I live. Although I don't doubt him, I figured I would ask around and get some other opinions. I live in a cookie cutter subdivision in Georgia, and the ground is pretty compact. Its sort of a mix of georgia red clay and brown topsoil.

What do yall think? Something I thought about was to not try planting this year, but working manure into from now til next spring, and try then. My dad suggested framing up a small raised bed garden, and fill it with some rich soil from his house, but thats not near as fun as laying off rows with an old Simplicity, or really making the neighbors mad and using our 8n

 

[greenmule]

Well,I come from a long line of moonshiners.

You just till and plant and see what happens,your dad might be surprised[or maybe not??],,you can add stuff this fall to your garden spot,10 by 20 foot spot,well that ain't much,you need to make that 4 times as big right off the bat,[mines about 1/2 an acre],,cow manure or horse manure in fall about 2-3 inches over every thing,than put a little lime on it,and till/[or plow would be better],it in,than plant you a cover crop,winter rye,and some greens to eat!

Greenbeans will grow anywheres,onions,lettuce,squash.

 

[Botabill]

I started gardening a bad piece of ground 25 years ago and it is fun making good soil out of bad as long as it's just a hobby not a livleyhood. If you want to jump ahead a bit get the good soil offered by your dad and add in well rotted manure. No shame in taking a short cut. It's nice to get a bit of a crop the first year.

 

[TexJer]

Most of the soil here in N. Central Texas is black gumbo. I'm lucky, my home is in the edge of the Post Oak Belt which is sandy soil. The "gumbo/clay" soils are great IF you amend them with lots of organic matter. 10 X 20' may not sound big to some gardeners, but you'd be surprised what you can reap from a spot that size. I have 1/4 acre lot and and have 2 gardens. My neighbors love me when the 'maters start producing!!

I say go for it.......one thing for sure, if you DON'T plant you'll be 100% assured of NOT having anything (nothing ventured, nothing gained)

Good luck. I find my garden time theraputic. What's funny, when I was a kid growing up on a farm I absolutely HATED going to the garden with Mom! Funny how time changes your outlook on life.

OH YEAH.....build a compost bin. Anything but meat products are OK. Keep it wet, turn it often (good exercise). This stuff is like gold. I hardly ever buy potting soil now.

 

[jdmar]

Can you do a "raised" garden the underground way? Dig out an area a foot deep or so then add your manure, sand, good soil, etc? That way the area would stay "flat" with the surrounding ground and be easy to access with equipment. But it would still have better soil. If you get bored you could just seed and turn back to yard (although well growing and VERY green!) Just another idea. Lets us know how it goes and send some pics!
Peter

 

[Oldchuck]

Subdivision soil is probably pretty bad but you won't know until you try. So plant some stuff in your garden spot and see how it grows. Study up on the subject and observe. The plants will tell you a lot. Then make adjustments next year. But by all means take your dad up on his offer. Maybe get some large containers for the good soil and then post some success right off.

Most of all have fun.

 

[forgeblast]

A good book is called "gardeing when it counts". It talks about all types of gardens, proper spacing, for various conditions and soil conditioners. I have been using the soil conditioner for a year now and have seen an improvement. its 1 part seed or bone meal to 3 parts lime.

 

[MarkV]

I am a big fan of having a soil test done by your county extension agent. UGA does the analyzing here in Georgia and it is $6 or $7 dollars. They will offer very detailed recommendations for soil amendment based on the crops you list on the soil sample. Most of the soil here in Georgia will need lime to lower the acidity and our clay just can't get enough organic material added in.

MarkV

 

[tripleup05]

Thanks for the replies. I think I will give it a shot. The worst that could happen is no crops grow, and the grass will come back next year greener and healthier. I know 10'x20' isn't too big, but it is the size of one of my parents plots, and they grow quite a few beans and peas in it. It should be enough for my wife and I.

I am a big fan of having a soil test done by your county extension agent. UGA does the analyzing here in Georgia and it is $6 or $7 dollars. They will offer very detailed recommendations for soil amendment based on the crops you list on the soil sample. Most of the soil here in Georgia will need lime to lower the acidity and our clay just can't get enough organic material added in.
MarkV

That is some good advice, Mark. How do I go about having the soil test done? Athens is not very far from me.

 

[Mickey_Fx]

See you made your second post just as I was about to offer up a couple comments. Will do so anyway.

I think in your original post you're saying about not planting this year but use the time to improve the soil is a good one. Working in organic matter is a good idea. Any chance you can buy organic compost nearby. This would let you get a lot of material worked in in a relatively short period. Come late summer I'd then have a soil test made and use the results to do what ever is necessary to get the soil loose, correct ph and appropriate nutrient level. Then go for it next year.

If you try this year and it doesn't work out it could sour you for any further attempts. If you wait until the soil is suitable, then you're be better prepared to make a decision on whether this is an activity you want to do annually.

I'm planting my garden and working on the 37 yr.