New to growing your own tomatoes? This is the forum to learn the successful techniques used by seasoned tomato growers. Questions are welcome, too.
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#16 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
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Every situation is different and the landscaper in me wishes I could look at your yard but in most cases I recommend the no-till approach, as in layer all your amendments on top starting with newspaper/cardboard if you dont have noxious weeds. The cardboard will attract the worms and as long as food is there and it stays moist they wont leave. I did it this way and now in my third year it is black earth down to around 9 inches. I just add more leaves/manure/compost/etc once a year. Covering it with plastic will help retain water and improve tilth. Good luck!
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#17 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Santa Maria California
Posts: 1,013
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#18 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Santa Maria California
Posts: 1,013
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#19 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Santa Maria California
Posts: 1,013
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#20 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
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If your going to make it a raised bed do the boards first. I never mix my stuff into the native soil because it is hard-pan clay and to much work, plus if you work it while wet it can ruin your soil structure. I'd add the boards, lay down paper/cardboard then put all the good stuff on top. Here are my beds. I dont use boards but I cover with plastic. these have never been tilled and I just re-edge yearly (with a nifty machine called a bed edger) then add manure etc and cover. If you look close you can see the evil Bermuda roots along the bed edges.
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#21 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Santa Maria California
Posts: 1,013
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BVV , after beds are constructed and it drys out , do I remove grass ? Then do I layer the soil with paper or cardboard and then put a mix to fill up the rest of the raised bed and cover that with plastic or something? Thanks,
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#22 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
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Thats what I'd do. Grass can stay if you cover with plastic or cardboard or something. I only use plastic because I have to. I am going to remove my plastic this year mid summer then mulch and see if that works. Plants seem to taste better when mulched to me.
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#23 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Santa Maria California
Posts: 1,013
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#24 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
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I know you said it rained but make sure to wet the cardboard/newspaper when you put it down. Here are some pics of when I first made the rows. there is cardboard under the rows as well. I had a fantastic garden that year so trust me tilling is not needed in most cases.
Last edited by BigVanVader; February 22, 2017 at 01:13 PM. |
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#25 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Santa Maria California
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#26 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
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Yeah his thread is what I went off of. The cardboard killed all my grass except the Bermuda.
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#27 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Santa Maria California
Posts: 1,013
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#28 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
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I wouldn't worry to much about what paper products you use. I used all kinds of stuff. The rolls of paper will make it go faster. Refrigerator boxes work great as well. I get all my amendments from a commercial supplier where it is all stored indoors, so I don't know what would be a good product at typical big box stores.
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#29 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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Jimbo I am here.
The brown paper is unbleached brown raw wood pulp paper like you would make a paper sack out of. It is used for drop cloth or what ever in the paint section. It is 3 feet wide and comes in big rolls. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Easy-Mask...2108/204363635 I dont know if it is the exact stuff I have or not. Last edited by Worth1; February 23, 2017 at 01:26 PM. |
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#30 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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I had a huge place coverd in grass.
I didnt have time to screw around so I bought the stuff rolled it out and weighted it down the best I could. Then I cut X's where I wanted the plants and planted them. Then I covered the whole area with about a foot of fluffed hay. This all packed down and did a fare job of stopping grass and weeds. |
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