"Hud" wrote in message
...
I live in Ohio (zone 5) and I'm starting a small vegetable garden in the
backyard this year. It is 7'x8'. I figure it is wise to start small the
first year and, if all goes well, increase it's size next year. I've never
gardened before - ever. The only thing I've done so far is dig up the
garden with a shovel. I got rid of all the grass sod and several rocks.
The soil is mostly clay, so I'm going to add some sand and good dark soil.
I will either rent or buy a tiller. I figure after the garden is tilled
all I have to do is plant. I figure the end of May to be good for that.
Does anyone know any good vegetable gardening websites? I'm particularly
interested in zone 5 gardening. I'm looking forward to participating in
this group.


Spend the first year developing the soil with quick decomposing material,
and some that's slower to decompose. Do not use cedar or other such wood
chips/slivers. Add a weak coated fertilizer in the process. Keep it turned
once a couple of weeks. Keep it damp. Weed it as you go along. No
herbicides. No insecticides. Lots of work, worth the payoff.

You can use sandy loam if you know what to look for in the potential. Look
for seeds, roots, branches, stalks, weeds. Look for hard black clay and
rocks. None of which you want.

Dave