Raised Bed Gardening Tips

Zinnia Garden 2015

 

It is that time of year!

As soon as this latest cold spell ends, I plan to prepare my raised beds and do my spring planting.


This year I will plant what I always plant- zinnias and tomatoes.

Without a doubt, the results are one of life’s greatest pleasures.

Here are the steps I follow to get ready for planting.

 

1.  Look up.

Walk your yard and look up.

You are looking for sunlight. 

This is something my father taught me.  My seeds’ growing season will be a disappointment

if they don’t receive at least 6 hours of full sun throughout the day.

 

2.  Clean up.

The soil that is in my raised beds now grew last year’s crop.

I need to till it by hand, remove any debris, add in new bags of gardening soil (I use Miracle Gro gardening

soil), and till it by hand again.



3.  Hold the soil loosely.

There is no packing in raised bed gardening.

I liken it to the folding we do in mixing cake batter-

the gentler the better.

 

 4.  Check the temperature.

I live in zone 9 (note the arrow above).

The planting season for zinnias in zone 9 begins in March and ends in August.

I begin planting at the end of February after colder weather is not expected.

5.  Continue walking the yard.

In South Texas we have been blessed with a few rainstorms this past year.

Everything of course grows after a good rain-

including trees .

Before starting your raised bed planting this spring, make sure the sunlight you are counting on hasn’t

changed.





This will be your reward.

*****

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