A garden starts with the soil. Tasty, robust vegetables are full of nutrients that feed the body and soul and those nutrients come from the sun, rain, and earth. Growing food depletes the nutrients in the earth and that organic matter must constantly be replaced to continue the growth cycle from season to season and through the years.
Compost, compost tea, organic fertilizers, more compost, blood and bone meal, fish emulsion, mulch, cover crops, and more compost are all important parts of the equation, depending on pH levels that can be determined in a soil test (best to have done by your state's Extension office). Compost gets expensive, which is why we built large scale compost bins in efforts to make and supply our own compost needs. This year we produced two yards, which is a solid step in our self-sufficiency direction.
note: hover over photos for captions
Compost, compost tea, organic fertilizers, more compost, blood and bone meal, fish emulsion, mulch, cover crops, and more compost are all important parts of the equation, depending on pH levels that can be determined in a soil test (best to have done by your state's Extension office). Compost gets expensive, which is why we built large scale compost bins in efforts to make and supply our own compost needs. This year we produced two yards, which is a solid step in our self-sufficiency direction.
note: hover over photos for captions
In fall, after pulling the plants, we prep the garden beds with compost and mulch. One of our winter projects includes planning the garden rotation for the next year. Crop rotation is essential in organic gardening as it reduces pests so you don't have to rely on chemicals to control pests and plant residues left by some vegetable families actually add nutrients for other veggies. The key is to not plant the same vegetable family in the same location for two years in a row (three is better, but not always practical).
We mulch with straw after planting so help retain moisture. This is a very early morning picture before the sun has risen - the garden is directly south facing.
Here's a look at we've learned so far and how we rotate our veggie garden.
Hover over photos below for captions.
Hover over photos below for captions.
ALLIUMS - Garlic, Onions, Leeks
BRASSICAS - Broccoli, Cabbage, Kale, Radish, Turnip
(Plant after Legumes)
CHENOPODIACEAE - Swiss Chard, Spinach, Beets
CUCURBITS - Cucumbers, Zucchini, Squash
LEGUMES - Peas, Beans
(Plant after Solanaceae; EVERYONE benefits from being planted after legumes because legumes are a nitrogen builder, so sneaking in legume cover crops like field peas, hairy vetch, and red clover in the fall or spring is a good idea and one we need to do more of ourselves)
SOLANACEAE - Peppers, Tomatoes, Potatoes
UMBELIFERAE - Celery, Celeriac, Carrots, Parsnips
(Plant after Brassicas or Cucurbits; includes parsley and dill, however I plant dill with the cucurbits because it acts as a deterrent to squash and
cucumber beetles)
This season the "big garden" will have produced just about all of our produce for this fall and winter until we start growing again in the spring - from storage crops like winter squash, carrots, onions, and garlic to frozen packages of kale, spinach, peas, and summer squash (not to mention all of the berries!), to products like tomato sauce, salsa, and pickles. And this fall into next spring we will focus on more compost and cover cropping so we can get better at growing cabbage and beets. Read more about how we got the big garden started.
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