Bigger equals...... better ?

[BobbyB]

My garden is 50 x 50. Or was. Karla and I have plotted out what all we want to grow this year and I just could see it all fitting.

So, I figured I have enough time yet, so I added another 30 feet. Or started anyway. I have an older Troybilt, whatever the small one was called and got across it once this evening. Tomorrow I'll till corner to corner and then start spreading aged horse manure over that. Till twice more and I should be in the money.

I know some here garden huge plots. As a kid, my Mom's garden was nearly an acre not counting the potatoes and the black eyes and purple hulls Dad planted away from the house.

When I get a tractor Hopefully later this Spring, Mine will get even bigger, but for now, it;s about as big as it's going to get with a tiller alone.

How big is yours?

[Callieslamb]

70x90 about the same as yours. I'd love to add more space, but don't have it close by. I took up some of my garden beds with a greenhouse this year. It's 14x20.

[Danaus29]

Haven't measured the big garden. Off hand I would say approx 100 x 40 feet and another section that's about 50 x 15 where the asparagus patch and the potato beds are. Then there's the patch I'm converting to a strawberry patch, about 10 x 10. And the shaded garden which is 30 x 15. The little garden which is about 9 x 15. The sunny garden at the bottom of the hill (fallen tree central) is 30 x 30. And the 2 raised beds in the front yard are 3.5 x 7 each. I should be able to raise a whole lot more than I have but the last couple years have been shtf years and we didn't get much from any of them. We're praying this year goes better.

[BobbyB]

Last year we had less than 6" of rain . I had to water the garden from day one and since it was the only green stuff around, the birds and rabbits wiped me out twice. When I finally got some stuff up past them the extreme heat set in and all we got were a few tomatoes and squash and they didnt last long.

So far this year we have been getting showers on a semi regular basis. I hope the trend continues at least til early Summer.

[Danaus29]

I tried to send you some of our rain but the post office kept returning it.

[BobbyB]

Originally Posted by Danaus29

I tried to send you some of our rain but the post office kept returning it.

I hate it when they do that. I have friend that lives and farms in Ohio close to Lake Erie. He has told me about getting rain by the foot this year.

[jwal10]

Bigger isn't always better. Takes more water, labor to keep weeded, nutrients, etc. Planting more in less space can yield a bigger harvest. Planting to use the seasons (cool weather crops, warm weather crops) can save water. Stretching the seasons to take advantage of moisture. Double crop. I can plant early without the need to use a lot of water to get plants started and use stored runoff water during production times for a good crop. Make use of shade and early morning sun instead of hot wilting afternoon sun....James