Expanding for 2011

For 2011 I decided to work on expanding the garden to encompass the whole back yard. I also decided that when I make a new bed I will use my own version of "Mel's Mix" from the Square Foot Gardening books. I used to only amend my own soil but after seeing the results of making my own soil I will no longer remix my sand from my yard back into the beds. It's more expensive but well worth it IMHO.

I also decided to use concrete blocks instead of wood to make the sides. They are 1.15 each at Home Depot so it is as cheap as wood and doesn't rot.

Here I am constructing some beds. I dig down about eight inches below the surface to remove the sand.

What it looks like when done.

Here are some of the amendments I use to enrich the soil.

When I mix up the mix to make the beds I add a generous amount of Azomite rock dust and also some green sand. These are for the micro nutrients and minerals that typical soil is always lacking. I also add bone meal. I used to have a problem with blossom end rot on my tomatoes which indicates a calcium deficiency. Since I have been adding bone meal the problem has gone away.

If I am planting heavy feeders I will add Piece of Mind Tomato and Vegetable fertilizer. If not I use the Gardens Alive vegetable fertilizer. The Piece of Mind also has mycorrhiza and other beneficial bacteria mixed in which helps the plants absorb nutrients and ward off disease.

I also use Alaska Fish Emulsion and Maxi Crop seaweed concentrate for liquid and foliar feeding of the plants.



A bed I made with double stacked blocks. I planted 3 beef steak tomatoes and beets in the bed.

That bed several weeks later

Some beets I harvested from that bed on 4-2

That bed on 4-2

Some more 4-2 pics

The top is strawberries. The bottom is cucumbers.