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Old November 1, 2014   #10
Barbee
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SW Ohio
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KathyDC View Post
Hello!

For the past two years, I've been growing my tomatoes in containers, because I don't have a bed laid out or prepared. Next spring, I'd like to do away with the containers and put in a bed. It will be used almost exclusively for tomatoes, but I may sneak in a pumpkin or eggplant here and there. It will probably be about 16'x10' but the dimensions I haven't quite decided on yet. It may end up being larger.

The way my yard is arranged, and the closeness of my house to other houses, will preclude using much (any) equipment. Getting a tiller back there may be possible, but could also be problematic. However I get it done, if I'm going to do it myself I won't be able to use much in the way of large equipment.

In terms of soil and amendments, I'd like to keep it as simple as possible. Once the bed is prepared, I may look to getting fancier in subsequent years.

I've read a bit about no-till methods for building a bed, but only snippets here and there. I would welcome your suggestions, or pointers toward other links on Tomatoville.

Thanks in advance!
OK so basically you need to kill the grass/weeds and lay out the bed this fall. Since you don't have access to using equipment, sections of newspaper with a mulch on top should do the trick. Clear plastic would work, too, but you'd have to remove that in spring and do the newspaper/mulch thing anyway.

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/spec...om-scratch.htm

http://peterboroughgardens.ca/mg_art...Bed-Dianne.htm
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