ideas for preparing beds for next season

bjbebs · August 9, 2014

My gardens are improved with horse manure and leaves in the fall.
When any large blocks of plants come out, such as garlic in July, I
will cover crop with buckwheat and then grain rye. I can double up
on the cover crops and still have time for leaves in November.
I hear a lot of talk about tillage ruining soil structure or damaging
earthworms. Organic matter has been tilled into my gardens twice
a year for decades. I can assure you that what few earthworms are
hurt will replenish quickly.
Nothing against store bought fertilizer but natural products do work
over time. Brown-green and manure in any combination or quantity
is all soil really needs.

August 9, 2014	#35
bjbebs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2014 Location: illinois Posts: 281	My gardens are improved with horse manure and leaves in the fall. When any large blocks of plants come out, such as garlic in July, I will cover crop with buckwheat and then grain rye. I can double up on the cover crops and still have time for leaves in November. I hear a lot of talk about tillage ruining soil structure or damaging earthworms. Organic matter has been tilled into my gardens twice a year for decades. I can assure you that what few earthworms are hurt will replenish quickly. Nothing against store bought fertilizer but natural products do work over time. Brown-green and manure in any combination or quantity is all soil really needs.