[AT] Raised bed gardening - or not...

[Herb Metz]

Steve mentions "a weed block or plastic to plant through"; we use silt fence 
both to plant through and to walk on between some rows of vegetation 
(tomatoes, okra, zinnias, etc).  The 3' wide black silt fence is readily 
available from construction sites; recently I got two trailer loads from a 
quarter mile long road remodel/upgrade. The contractor even loaded it for me 
because otherwise he would have had to pay for dumping it at a landfill.  We 
have used silt fence for at least eight years. No weeding, very little 
moisture evaporation, no soil erosion, one can walk in garden soon after a 
rain without getting shoes muddy, etc.  Herb

-----Original Message----- 
From: Steve W.
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 4:14 PM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] Raised bed gardening - or not...

Mike Meulenberg wrote:
> Thank you for the info on raised beds guys, I hope to get them
> installed this weekend. Wife has ordered the project be completed
> posthaste, so I better get busy before the heat hits on Monday.
> David, you mentioned working your beds after a rain. Do I still need
> to till a raised bed? Thanks, Mike M

Dirt is dirt, it still needs to get turned a bit. BUT if you mix it
right you can till it with a pitchfork. I till mine with an attachment
on the weed eater.

For many crops you can also put down weed block or plastic and plant
through that. Keeps weeds down and makes it easier to harvest as well.

-- 
Steve W.
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