The Garden Helper home page Gardening guides for the novice gardener There is no such thing as I Cant Grow a Plant What should you be doing in the garden this month? Join the friendliest group of gardeners on the web! Free flower, nature, and critter screensavers! Free flower and nature photos for your desktop wallpaper A growing collection of recipes for Christmas cookies and other good things to eat! An Encyclopedia of Gardening Guides and Plant Profiles
Willy World Post New Topic  Post A Reply
login | | |

  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» Willy World » Gardening Reference » Gardening in 2007 » First Timer--Vegetable Garden Placement

   
Author Topic: First Timer--Vegetable Garden Placement
caseyandmelody
Gardener
Member # 11844

Icon 1 posted      Profile for caseyandmelody     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
I'm newly married and will be planting my first vegetable garden. I have about an acre of land to choose from, but i've heard from the neighbors that my plot gets water-logged easily (even though we have a slight slope and drainage ditches all around). I also have very tall, mature trees on the perimeter of the property. I'm in zone 5, I believe. How do I decided where to place this garden? How can I discover how well the water will drain? How much sunlight per day should it get, etc? Thanks so much for all your help! [Smile]
Posts: 1 | From: Missouri | Registered: Mar 2007  |  Logged: 71.51.210.223
badplanter
Garden Pro!
Member # 10062

Icon 1 posted      Profile for badplanter     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
lots of sunlight [as much as possible], try to stay away from the trees, and maybe add gardening gypsum to increase drainage in the soil..

[thumb]

--Mark--

bbbbbbbbb
-
-
- - "I don't want no more of army life, gee mom, I wanna go, but they won't let me go, gee mom, I wanna go home!" My PB!
Posts: 6469 | From: Staten Island, NYC | Registered: Jul 2006  |  Logged: 205.188.116.9
Longy
Garden Pro!
Member # 3641

Icon 1 posted      Profile for Longy     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Vegies like plenty of sun, so pick a spot close to the house, for ease for maintenance and in full or near full sun, (a bit of late afternoon shade in Summer isn't a bad thing). You'll need water nearby too. Don't put it far from an existing water supply unless you plan to install more water lines.
Regarding the soil drainage, dig a hole about a foot deep, and tip in a bucket of water. Time how long it takes for the water to dissappear into the soil. If it takes more than 15 min you may need to improve the soil a bit. If it takes more than 30 min you almost certainly would do better building up the soil. (This is a good idea regardless.) Clay based soils drain poorly. Sand based soils drain freely. Somewhere in between is ideal.
Do your neighbours grow vegies or do they have successful gardens? They may give you a few tips on exactly what the soil needs not only drainage wise but also with Ph, nutrient etc. I'd have another talk to them.

bbbbbbbbb
-
The secret is the soil.
Posts: 1184 | From: East Coast | Registered: Sep 2004  |  Logged: 144.135.170.82
   

Quick Reply
Message:

HTML is not enabled.
UBB Code™ is enabled.

Instant Graemlins
     


Post New Topic  Post A Reply Close Topic   Feature Topic   Move Topic   Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
- Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:


The Garden Helper | Privacy Statement

Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classic™ 6.7.2