Dinner Time

Well, the plants were in for about a week before I fed them for the first time.  I used Miracle Grow tomato and vegetable food.  I mixed it according to the package instructions into my watering can.  I watered each plant individually until it was thoroughly saturated.  I did that to make sure the water and food made it far enough into the ground to promote good root expansion and growth.  I feed them about once every week and a half to two weeks.  Stay tuned for the lush green carpet I call my front lawn.

Vege Garden

Well, today I was able to get outside in some decent weather to finish the garden bed I'd started about a month and a half ago.  I think I had visions of grandure with other bed.  It started out being about 16'x16'.  I just slapped it together and didn't really envision the finished product.  I stepped back a bit and took a look from the outside in, and decided to go about it a different way.  I started with framing a 4'x8' raised bed and set it in place to see how much I would have to level out.  I tilled the area slightly bigger than I needed before I got started.

  After manufacturing my planter bed, I laid it out and used a level to see how far off I was.  I knew it was going to be bad because there is about a 3 foot slope from the back fence to the house.  I used a pick-axe to dig out where the bed would lay lower closest to the fence.  Once the bed was laid down and level, I added my potting soil and turned it in to the dirt with the tiller.  I used Bumper Crop brand soil that I purchased from my local nursury.

After the bed was complete, leveled, tilled and smoothed out....it was time to plant.  I had four tomato plants I had purchased and needed to get in the ground TODAY.  They had been in my garage for a week.  The weather in Susanville had been so bad I didn't want to risk planting them.  I also had beans I had started from seed that were running out of room in the container they were growing in.  I planted the tomatos and installed their cages.  After those I transplanted the beans in the front part of the bed.  For good measure, I planted a couple of pepper plants between the tomatos.  I really had no where else to put them, so I just stuck them where I had room.

I hope this helps.  Just remember to till in some type of starter "soil" into your bed.  Also, remember to dig and till down deep enough for good root penetration.  I'll keep you posted on how things turn out!  Stay tuned for the first time with feed our vegetables.  I'm partial to the MiracleGrow tomato food, so we'll see how it works out!