Over the fall and winter we had our pigs where we wanted to put our garden. The back half of
their pen we left grass, where we would move 
them in and out during the growing season. Once winter hit, they got full run of the pen. We had hoped to not have them in there so long, but since we didn't get our perimeter fence up they stayed put. Because of this, the garden spot not only got rooted up nicely, but it also got packed back down.Last night Ethan started getting it ready to be a garden. As you can see, it plowed up quite nicely. It still has to be tilled, and it is errr . . . well . . . quite ripe smelling.
It was suggested to us to just plant things that are off of the ground in this spot this year since it hasn't had a chance to fully compost yet, putting the crops that come in contact with the ground in a different spot. So the crops I'm thinking of planting here are sweet corn, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, peppers, and also pumpkins and gourds that won't be eaten. I will also put a nice layer of mulch under the plants that are semi close to the ground to prevent "backsplash". Let me know if you have any thoughts about putting these veggies here and if you have any other suggestions of others.
So, now all we have to do is get the garden tilled, and then I can start planting. I am excited to see how it does.
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5 comments:
Here are some tips I have recently read on manure (hope it helps):
**If manure is not composted, age the manure to be applied to produce fields for at least six months prior to application.
**Apply manure in the fall or at the end of the season to all planned vegetable ground or fruit acreage, preferably when soils are warm, non saturated, and cover-cropped.
**If applying manure in the spring (or the start of a season), spread the manure two weeks before planting, preferably to grain or forage crops.
**DO NOT harvest vegetables or fruits until 120 days after manure application.
**Avoid growing root and leafy crops in the year that manure is applied to a field.
Amanda- Thanks for the tips about manure. I hadn't heard those so it helps a bit with planning.
now if Spring will only come to Iowa. It has been windy, blusterly and cool in my part of Ioway the last several days.
I am jealous of your pigs. I want some chickens that will scratch up the ground and eat the bugs and worms out of the soil but my husband is dragging his feet . . . as we live in a small town. Chickens might not be legal.
If you would till it a few times it would break down a bit faster and be plantable. Good luck and I am 'rooting' for you!
plant what ever you want to in there its not gonna affect the taste or any thing.
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