What do you plan on planting in the garden? Just curious to see what others have planned. I am working on mine now! I have the graph paper out, along with my square foot gardening book, and am trying to make some decisions now. I haven't ever been too successful with my garden (season of life... pregnancy/little ones aren't very conducive to gardening success for a newbie), so I am trying to hold myself back on doing too much this year (like I usually do :roll: ) and focus on something a bit simpler so I can gain some proper experience (and in turn, confidence).
I hope to do a "three sisters" garden where the chicken run used to be... it's good and picked clean. We're getting at least one more load of compost so I hope to spread some on top of the soil, loosen up the area (with a hand tiller type thing so I don't turn over a bunch of weed seeds), and maybe add some leaves for mulch. I know it is full of worms, which I hope is a good sign. Once that gets established, I hope it will be pretty hands off. In another area I want to plant gourds (louffa, birdhouse and dancing) along cattle panels, with sweet potatoes underneath. Again, I hope once it gets established it will be good to go for a while.
For the main planting area I have 11 4x4 squares plus some extra area around the perimeter where we squared off the triangles (I'll have to take a pic because I am sure that doesn't make sense). I am going to plant a variety of things using the square foot method, but try and space things out just a little bit more so I can get in their easier. Also trying my best to use companion planting. I have seeds for a wide variety of things, but not sure yet what I will actually plant this year. I also have some crates I want to fill for potatoes and root veggies since we have clay, and my other raised beds aren't terribly deep (although the carrot seeds I bought specifically said clay soils in the description).
Our church has a large area that is thick with old leaves - I'm talking probably 3 feet?? If I spread those out over the garden area after the seedlings are decently established, would that be OK enough for mulch? Some of them have started breaking down - would those be better? Or the "fresher" ones on top?
I hope to do a "three sisters" garden where the chicken run used to be... it's good and picked clean. We're getting at least one more load of compost so I hope to spread some on top of the soil, loosen up the area (with a hand tiller type thing so I don't turn over a bunch of weed seeds), and maybe add some leaves for mulch. I know it is full of worms, which I hope is a good sign. Once that gets established, I hope it will be pretty hands off. In another area I want to plant gourds (louffa, birdhouse and dancing) along cattle panels, with sweet potatoes underneath. Again, I hope once it gets established it will be good to go for a while.
For the main planting area I have 11 4x4 squares plus some extra area around the perimeter where we squared off the triangles (I'll have to take a pic because I am sure that doesn't make sense). I am going to plant a variety of things using the square foot method, but try and space things out just a little bit more so I can get in their easier. Also trying my best to use companion planting. I have seeds for a wide variety of things, but not sure yet what I will actually plant this year. I also have some crates I want to fill for potatoes and root veggies since we have clay, and my other raised beds aren't terribly deep (although the carrot seeds I bought specifically said clay soils in the description).
Our church has a large area that is thick with old leaves - I'm talking probably 3 feet?? If I spread those out over the garden area after the seedlings are decently established, would that be OK enough for mulch? Some of them have started breaking down - would those be better? Or the "fresher" ones on top?