new vegetable Plot  

Thats what i got married for so i dont have to do the hard work. Why do you think my house has been getting painted room by room cause im pregnant and cant paint so its the best time for painting to be done hehehehe.

We used a tiller last year but aren't going to be able to this year, so I am gong to dig each individual hole for each plant and then start placing all of my old newspapers around to keep the weeds away.. I can also take any of the extra grass clippings and use them to help keep control of the weeds.. But I do really need to get started very soon..

Impressive, Grandpa Bob.

I use a tiller or the tractor when I'm breaking ground for these types of projects. I have used your method before and it can be quite tiresome. Be careful, my friend.

don't overdue it then just take it a step at a time and you will be surprised how it all gets done.
I usually dig by hand but my plot is not very big at all so it is more managable for me but I could not grow some sorts of vegetables every year my greatest pleasure

I wish you luck and please be careful!

When we first moved into our house, the yard didn't have much grass, so we decided to break up the ground and plant grass seed. We didn't have a tiller, we used the garden claw which took us a few days and that was really hard work. I have a bad back already but after we finished I couldn't hardly walk for several days.

I couldn't do that type of theing even if I wanted to sweetheart! My grandad used to and he did a lot by hand when he was well in his 70's - then he got a manual rotavator and never used it! lol It is hard work AGB so please promise a little at a time! xxx

Nope, we have no tiller... We did the first year we moved here, but it broke down and could never afford another one..You are braver than I, though I have started my own place to start my berry bushes, I have not done plots like that..I do, however, have a plot that was made by this square sheeting that was in the yard and my husband wouldn't move..When he finally did, it made a perfect spot to plant my strawberries..All I had to do was break up the ground a little, all the grass was already gone.

I use a garden spade. It is the shovel with a flatish square end. It makes it very easy to sit on your but and use your legs to remove the soil.

For my own growing areas I will personally shovel and turn all of the soil. Then apply amendments. Next I will till it 4 or 5 times to make sure it is mixed very well.

The sod is good for the compost pile as well as filling areas of your lawn.

When I was a boy, I grew a garden plot on our farm and we were too poor to afford a tiller or any mechanical assistance. My grandpa who lived down the hill from us at the time also grew a large garden and he shared a secret with me when he saw me removing the sod. It is unnecessary to remove the sod! Just turn it over with a spade and all the nutrients within the grass will decompose and stay right there in your garden as if you had already mixed in compost.

He was right. Have you ever looked at a large field where a farmer is preparing to plant? He doesn't remove the grass and weeds, he tills them under to provide nutrients for his crop.

He also taught me some things about which vegetables to plant near each other because certain ones take certain things from the soil while others take different things. I don't remember these combinations anymore but I do know when I get the chance to garden again, i will be looking them up!

So save some time and effort! Just spade up the ground, turn it over and let it set a week or so before trying to hoe your rows! Good luck!

I think you have done a great job!!! Recently there are nearly no one bother doing these kind of things. You make me wanna do the same thing after I have bought my own house~~