Maybe a little early but I got stuff to do this weekend in the garden that I should've already done. Gonna cover raised beds with compost and mulch over existing mulch. Adding an asparagus bed this year after talking to Joseph recently.
I've been hauling manure to try and boost our soil here in WV. I'm on top of a ridge 3/4 of the way up the mountain the soil here is more shale and small rocks than soil. Last year I brought in 45yds of topsoil just so we could have a proper garden here. I've spread somewhere around 10 ton of manure on it this fall/winter. Will send a soul sample out in spring to see if I still need more.
I've been hauling manure to try and boost our soil here in WV. I'm on top of a ridge 3/4 of the way up the mountain the soil here is more shale and small rocks than soil. Last year I brought in 45yds of topsoil just so we could have a proper garden here. I've spread somewhere around 10 ton of manure on it this fall/winter. Will send a soul sample out in spring to see if I still need more.
We had terrible soil here, about 1-3" deep then sand or clay, depending where you dug.
We penned up a couple hogs, 24x60', and they tilled and fertilized it.
After 2nd year, soil was RICH and a foot deep. Moved pen and repeated.
THAT is our garden now.
Tomato plant will take up at least 4 square feet of that. Basil and tomatoes are companion plants so that's good. Basil will take up another couple square feet.So thoughts on asparagus/strawberry/ basil and maybe a mid season cherry tomato or 2 in a 10x4 raised bed?
Your not wrong, thanks for the reality check. 10x4 isn't a lot of spaceTomato plant will take up at least 4 square feet of that. Basil and tomatoes are companion plants so that's good. Basil will take up another couple square feet.
Strawberries, depending on how many, can take up some space. Figure probably a square foot per plant.
Asparagus is the real outlier. I personally would not plant it in a bed with other things. It takes up quite a bit of space if you plant enough to get a good harvest. It also deserves its own bed as it has its own unique requirements. Once planted it should produce for 20 years or more. Put it somewhere you can leave it and take care of it, not in with other plants.
It's not a lot of space but with the right plant selection you could grow a lot in it. You could certainly grow your tomato plant, several basil plants and at least 25 strawberry plants in that space.Your not wrong, thanks for the reality check. 10x4 isn't a lot of space
So thoughts on asparagus/strawberry/ basil and maybe a mid season cherry tomato or 2 in a 10x4 raised bed?
And I am envious of you guys with livestock, except all the work ya need to do
For that you probably want sheep rather than sows. At least that is what the folklore indicates.Do
Don't be I just spent the last 10 min getting chased and nearly gored by a 350lb boar hog. His little girlfriends are in heat guess he figured me for competition. Brings me joy to turn his children into bacon.