Some garden work

[Shotgun Clay]

I decided that I needed to "till" my garden because it was a decent afternoon. After turning the soil I used a bed boxspring to smooth it out. I will be planting tomatoes, peaches and cream sweet corn, white pumpkins, and yukon gold potatoes in it.

[john hall]

Ok that's some pretty heavy turf. You get someone to harrow/plow/chisel that for you with a farm tractor?

[West Valley G]

Great idea on the bed spring, sounds better then the pallet with cinder blocks on it I tend to use. We are attempting to get our Yukons in this week if it will dry out enough to work up the spud garden.

Ken

[Shotgun Clay]

Originally Posted by john hall

Ok that's some pretty heavy turf. You get someone to harrow/plow/chisel that for you with a farm tractor?

The spot used to be a farm field two years ago, the previous home owners let the person who farms the field near us use the space. I do have a plow, but still need to make a mount, I dont know what brand it is.

[J-Mech]

Looks like you just scratched the surface then wollowed it around with the springs. Better wait to plant anything until you get a real plow and really work it.

[Shotgun Clay]

Got my plow hooked up and plowed the garden. It was my first time using a plow, it was interesting The part where the plow hooked to the hitch kept failing, so I upgraded the 2 bolts attaching the adapter block to the hitch. After plowing I took a cultivator to break up clumps and smooth some, then used the bed boxspring for extra smoothness. I will plant seeds once this cold and rain passes monday.

[sgt.porter]

Not bad for your first go round.
It's been awhile for me, but I like to work the ground several times before planting. It helps the sun scorch the grass roots, kills off more weed seeds, and gives the birds and rodents an easier go at picking out the grubs.
J-Mech is right, you want to really work it before planting anything otherwise your weeds will get out of control and your plants will grow slower in the packed soil.
Father in-law came and plowed 2 plots for me in Feb. I got my tractor running and tilled them up about 3 weeks ago, waited 2 weeks then spread a layer of manure and bedding from our rabbits and tilled it again with 2 passes.
Played in it a little bit today setting up my cultivator, but will start planting next week.
It's been 4 years since I was last able to garden. I don't expect my dirt to be truly conditioned this year, but I'm working it enough that it will be an acceptable (re)start.