Steve B wrote:
We are ready to rip into our existing garden, a haphazard thing from
its inception, not done by us. I now have a tractor, so have the
ability to scrape ground, till up, rake, and bring in large amounts
of topsoil.
Is there a good guide to planning a garden, either a book or a site? We
want to put in trellises for things that grow good on them, and
mounds for melons and cucumbers. Separate the winter foods from
summer foods. We want a couple of rows of corn. Overhead sprinkling
on some areas, ground watering in others. Things like that.

Now that it is a raw canvas, it is the best time to do this. And
we'd like to do it just once, and do it right. Advice appreciated.

There are many landscaping and whole garden planning books but few
specialising in food gardens. Several on conventional growing of the kind
'grow your own veges' have chapters on planning and design and then there
is permaculture which is (nearly) all about food. Both points of view are
well worth the look. Head for the library.

A few tips:

- Measure the area and draw scale plans before you lift a shovel. Don't
make paths too narrow for a barrow.
- Dig some test holes to discover your soil profile.
- Consider where the sun will be at different times of day and the year.
Get an ephemeris!
- Consider where ground water will run, do you need to improve drainage,
save water or both? What kind of irrigation suits your situation and budget
best?
- Where and when does the wind blow, do you need a wind break or to reduce
mould by having air circulation?
- As others have said don't have fixed crops in beds, rotate summer and
winter and types of crops. Most are annuals, some are biennials or
perennials, think where the last will go.
- Where will tool/potting sheds, chicken houses, compost heaps etc go.
Don't hide them too far away!
- Do you need to bring in equipment or loads of soil, where will that go?


David

PS

Don't plant corn in rows but in blocks.