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KCMO_Don · February 22, 2006

I do something very similar.
I have built single row raised beds for my plants that run North to South, so they get a FULL day of sun. These beds are on a mound already so drainage is good.
They are 40 feet long, 2 feet wide, 1 foot tall, but I dug out 12-18 inches under the beds.
To those empty dugout beds I added a LOT of shredded dry leaves, horse manure, several hundred pounds of mostly finished homemade compost. We are a vegetarian family so our kitchen waste is substancial (that goes in).
I then add the original soil back in, and hit it all with the tiller and cover with breathable black landscaping fabric. I moisten and turn about every 10 days.
I was cursed with CLAY, but now I cannot turn one spade of soil without SCADS of earthworms of all stages of developement.
This is my first year growing in these beds. Last year I had a great crop, but I am expecting GREAT things this season!

February 22, 2006	#6
KCMO_Don Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: KANSAS Posts: 223	Don #2 I do something very similar. I have built single row raised beds for my plants that run North to South, so they get a FULL day of sun. These beds are on a mound already so drainage is good. They are 40 feet long, 2 feet wide, 1 foot tall, but I dug out 12-18 inches under the beds. To those empty dugout beds I added a LOT of shredded dry leaves, horse manure, several hundred pounds of mostly finished homemade compost. We are a vegetarian family so our kitchen waste is substancial (that goes in). I then add the original soil back in, and hit it all with the tiller and cover with breathable black landscaping fabric. I moisten and turn about every 10 days. I was cursed with CLAY, but now I cannot turn one spade of soil without SCADS of earthworms of all stages of developement. This is my first year growing in these beds. Last year I had a great crop, but I am expecting GREAT things this season! __________________ GIGGITY - GIGGITY