I have about a 20 x 10 garden that I started last year. It overgrown
with a pumkin vine and some other weeds have gotten into as well. As
soon as I harvest the pumpkins I want to prep the bed for next year.
What do other people do to prep their gardens for the next season?
I think I should ..pull as many weeds as I can..
maybe rototill and add some nutrients..fertilize?
can I mix in my grass clippings until the end of the grass cutting
season ?
Any other ideas?

Thanks,

Steven

On 15 Sep 2003 09:01:47 -0700,
(Steve Sagerian) wrote:

I have about a 20 x 10 garden that I started last year. It overgrown
with a pumkin vine and some other weeds have gotten into as well. As
soon as I harvest the pumpkins I want to prep the bed for next year.
What do other people do to prep their gardens for the next season?
I think I should ..pull as many weeds as I can..

Yes.

maybe rototill and add some nutrients..fertilize?

Yes. Although I would probably not fertilize till next
spring.

can I mix in my grass clippings until the end of the grass cutting
season ?

Yes.

Any other ideas?


You can also chop up fallen leaves (by mowing over them with
your lawn mower) and mix them in. They're very good for
this purpose.

Pat
--
"Rats and roaches live by competition under the laws of
supply and demand. It is the privilege of human beings to
live under the laws of justice and mercy." - Wendell Berry

I can,t think of a reason to fertilize, but other than that you answered
your own ?,s. PS. the organic breakdown from the materials tilled
in are somewhat of a fertilizer anyway.

The only thing I can think of to add to all this discussion is that you
might want to consider a cover crop for the garden. Clover or winter rye
(make sure it's an annual, not a perennial) would be good for the soil.
Makes good green manure in the spring.

Philip
"Carol Hill" wrote in message
...
I can,t think of a reason to fertilize, but other than that you answered
your own ?,s. PS. the organic breakdown from the materials tilled
in are somewhat of a fertilizer anyway.

Steve Sagerian wrote:
.........................................
maybe rototill and add some nutrients..fertilize?
........................
Steven

Don't add garden fertilizer in the fall. The nutrients, especially the
nitrogen, tend to wash out during the off season. All you are doing is
polluting and wasting your money. Fertilize when the garden is growing
and the plants need it.
If you need to add lime, you can do that in the fall. Also anything
organic can go in now such as chopped leaves or the grass clippings. I
thing your other ideas are all good.

Steve

I'd go with the green manure crop, it will keep any weeds down over the
winter months and just before spring you cut it down and its an instant
manure crop. Maybe add a little manure at the same time as you cut the
winter crop.
Its cheap, enviromentally friendly and requires little work. Clover is an
excellent manure crop.
I put it on all my 'unused' winter beds, the ones that don't get much winter
sun.

"Steve" wrote in message
...


Steve Sagerian wrote:
.........................................
maybe rototill and add some nutrients..fertilize?
.......................
Steven

Don't add garden fertilizer in the fall. The nutrients, especially the
nitrogen, tend to wash out during the off season. All you are doing is
polluting and wasting your money. Fertilize when the garden is growing
and the plants need it.
If you need to add lime, you can do that in the fall. Also anything
organic can go in now such as chopped leaves or the grass clippings. I
thing your other ideas are all good.

Steve

Before the ground hard-freezes, I cover the garden area about one foot
or more deep with grass clippings and leaves, and have it roto-tilled.
By planting time it's just right, and doesn't need another tilling.