I am experimenting with my garden.

[Lisa0825]

OK, I have never had a veggie garden before, but my mom used to garden here years ago, and her plants grew well. I started 2 boxes using the square foot method, and most things are growing quite well. I started with one box, and then in the squares where some things didn't grow, I planted a new batch, and eventually I got addicted, and started a second box about a month ago.

Well, I needed another fix because I am impatient with waiting for things to mature, so I went and planted more!LOL

However, this time, it was purely a spontaneous decision. I didn't have wood or vermiculite, so I decided to try it a different way. I don't know if what I did would be called "raised bed" or what. It looks like a hybrid between the square foot method and traditional gardening. What I did was dig out the grass in about a 4 x 6 rectangle, save as much of the soil stuck to the roots as possible, and threw in the rest of the peat and compost I had leftover from the last box, along with a leftover bag of potting soil to give it some more volume.

I figured that by the time my other two boxes are tapering off their production, these new plants will be getting ready to go.

In the process, I learned some things about my soil. I think it is probably quite good, although maybe a little too thick and clay-like. It was a dark, rich color. And even though we have been sorely lacking in rain lately, and I have only been watering my garden and not the lawn, the soil was actually very moist, so I am guessing it holds moisture very well. My grass grows very thick, so I assume that is a good sign.

I found LOTS of big beautiful earthworms while I was digging!

I am SO embarrassed! :blush: While digging, I accidentally disturbed a couple of earthworms while mating!!! I quickly apologized and moved them over to the box farthest away so they could have their privacy and continue to make a new generation of worms for me.

[hippywife]

1. Hope it all works out for you.

Sounds like you've been bitten hard by the garden bug. LOL Gardening seems to always be experimentation on some level or another.

That earthworm story is priceless. :rofl:

[Lisa0825]

3. Yes, I have been bitten very hard! LOL!

Actually, I am very happy about that. I tend to be the lazy type. On my free time on the weekends, I tend to favor surfing the net and watching TV. So getting motivated about something that requires a good bit of physical activity and attention is a very good thing for me.

I hope the earthworms weren't too traumatized to finish their liaison.

[Blue Gardener]

2. At least you didn't cut them in half

That sometimes happens when I'm digging. Oops.

[Lisa0825]

4. I didn't see any that were cut in half.

I hope they were all spared! I went through each clump by hand to remove as much dirt as I could, and I didn't find any casualties.

[KSinTX]

5. I read all the way through

just to SHOCK find porn in the garden forum. Engrossing stuff (particularly where you enabled the public display). :rofl:

I too have soil issues and have to constantly keep it amended. Next year I'm thinking of going to a more raised bed concept. Keep us posted on your progress!

[sazemisery]

6. Gardening is an experiment, every day.

I love gardening because it is the game of life and you are in control. You plant and nurture and you have successes and failures and life goes on. You step back at the end of a long day and are bone tired but very content and at peace.