Gardening question

[Genevieve M.]

I have been preparing the site for my vegetable garden for several years. It is a sunny acre of sandy soil sloping south. How is that for alteration?

First, I had the goats clean out the vines, then I let the pigs pill up the roots and till. Next I added layers of compost, and I'm ready to plant, but I'm not sure how to map out the garden.

Is it correct that a patch of corn should go on the North side so it doesn't shadow lower plant?

What about rows?

If I lay them out East to west, the divisions might get erased by run off when I water on account of the slope.

Should I mound soil onto blocks, and then form rows within those blocks?

I like the garden pictures in The self-sufficient Life and How to Live It, but I wish I knew which direction they were oriented. A compass rose in the illustration would have helped me.

Does anyone have pictures of intensively planted gardens they would like to share?

[geo in mi]

I would plant the corn on the North side--and it sounds like the topside of your garden, east to west. I would then invest in some gentle soaker hoses to use so as not to erode the soil. Just make sure you have the corn in blocks of three rows each, or more if possible, to help wind pollination.....You can plant early varieties in the West, and then late varieties in the East to prevent any cross pollination.

You can use mulch or some companion planting to reduce erosion on the other vegetables.

geo

[Micheal]

Originally Posted by Genevieve M.

I have been preparing the site for my vegetable garden for several years. It is a sunny acre of sandy soil sloping south. How is that for alteration?

Sounds like an ideal spot for a garden.

I'm ready to plant, but I'm not sure how to map out the garden.

That's what makes gardening a never ending challenge, with weather, climate, etc trail and error may prove to be the best solution.

Is it correct that a patch of corn should go on the North side so it doesn't shadow lower plant?

Depends on whether you plan on doing crop rotation or not?

What about rows?
If I lay them out East to west, the divisions might get erased by run off when I water on account of the slope.

Could always use a "soaker" hose or something that wouldn't flood the area. If the slope is enough to cause concern then plant with (or across) the slope not up and down it.

Should I mound soil onto blocks, and then form rows within those blocks?

Only if'n you have the time and energy to........ but then again it's dependent on amount of "slope" there is....

Does anyone have pictures of intensively planted gardens they would like to share?

I don't...... sorry.

[Cyngbaeld]

Rows should always go across a slope.
Caution with mulch because fire ants love it and will move into it over night. They also love raised beds and containers.

[ronbre]

may I suggest you take a few days and read Gaia's Garden before wasting all that time planting in rows??