How to Make a Vegetable Garden

Two Easy Ways to Grow Vegetables Without Digging

Sep 25, 2009 Beverley Boorer

There is no doubt that creating a garden is backbreaking work - or is it? Here are two easy ways to make a vegetable garden - without digging.

Two Easy Ways to Make a Vegetable Garden

There is no doubt that creating a garden is backbreaking work - or is it? For those who want a vegetable garden, here are two easy ways to make one - with no digging.

Many people dream of having a plentiful supply of fresh garden produce, but establishing a vegetable garden in the back yard sounds like backbreaking work. Digging with a shovel or a pick is only for those who possess the strongest muscles, right? But there are ways to create a garden without digging at all. For those who are frail, aged, or simply have no inclination to get blisters and a bad back from trying to dig out that grass, these ways offer a viable alternative.

Easy Vegetable Garden One

This is the easiest way of all to make a vegetable garden - or any other kind of garden.

Choose the best place for the garden. A vegetable garden needs at least six hours of sunlight. Areas that are excessively shady will not grow vegetables successfully. Neither should it be too close to the roots of trees or shrubs. Some tree roots wander a long way and will grow towards any moisture they sense. This means that they could quickly invade any garden area and steal the moisture and nutrients that the vegetables need.
Outline the chosen area with something like timber slabs or concrete blocks. A square is the easiest shape to mow around. Once these are laid in position the hardest part is over.
Fill in the area with many sheets of newspaper. Overlap the sheets so that no grass can be seen. The layers should be several sheets thick to prevent light from penetrating and kill the grass underneath. Cardboard can be used too, so long as it is not waxed. Make sure the newspaper is placed right against the edging material. In fact, if it can be tucked it under that is better still.
Now fill the area with good purchased soil from the nursery. Add fertilizer, rake it over and plant whatever vegetables have been chosen.

Tip: When watering this garden use a light spray so that the soil is not washed out.

Easy Vegetable Garden Two

This vegetable garden will take longer to establish, but it will cost less because there will be no need to purchase soil.

Follow steps 1 through 3 above.
Instead of filling the area with purchased soil, fill it with old hay, leaves, straw, or dead grass clippings - with no seeds. This layer should be at least as high as the edging.
Once the entire area is filled in, scatter manure over it. Bags of manure can be accessed from poultry farms, horse stables, dairy farms or from out in the field for those lucky enough to live in the country. Some farms sell bags of manure at their gate. The worms will eat their way up through the newspaper and the straw and make wonderful compost.
Water the whole gently and keep it damp to facilitate rotting and worm activity. After a few weeks this garden will be ready to plant, with lots of organic fertilizer in place ready to feed those seedlings. It does not need to be dug over; simply dig a little hole for each seedling or seed.

Growing vegetables is an enjoyable pastime and a vegetable garden will certainly provide fresh, healthy produce for the whole family.

Tip: When picking produce from a garden that is slightly raised like this, remember not to walk backwards near the edge, or a nasty fall could result.

Back Yard Self Sufficiency

(Aird Books 1993$14.95 Australian,)

A Home Vegetable Garden

By: Ella Freeman

Booktopia

The copyright of the article How to Make a Vegetable Garden in Vegetable Gardens is owned by Beverley Boorer. Permission to republish How to Make a Vegetable Garden in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Garden Edging