Vegetable Garden Tips:

Gardening Tips that I've learned from trial / error and from other gardeners. 

• Breaking up new ground ..... Before breaking up new ground for your garden, cut the grass as short as possible.  After it starts to regrow (a few days) spray the entire area with Round-Up which not only kills the top portion of the grass but also the roots.  This will make it much easier to break up and you'll also have fewer weeds and grass coming up in your garden.  A mix of full strength round-up is 1 oz. to the gallon of water.  It will usually take about 2 weeks to get a good kill then you can start tilling. This would also apply to an old garden spot as well if you're having weed problems.
• How deep should I till ......  I strongly believe in tilling as deep as possible, breaking up the soil beyond the root zone.  I attach my middle buster behind my tractor and sink it as far as it will go.  I do this at least once per year over the entire garden before tilling.  If you're using a walk behind tiller, allow it to do it's job and go as deep as possible.
• Fertilization ...... From what I've read and through experience I've found that most vegetables require from 500 - 750 lbs. of fertilizer per acre.  (An acre is approx. 43,000 sq. feet)  I use 13-13-13 or 17-17-17.  A good, strong, starting point would be approx 6-8 lbs. of 8-8-8 per 300 sq. feet or 100 feet of row.  If starting out with poor soil, you may need a little more.  If you're going to grow both a spring and fall garden, you'll have to make two applications of fertilizer.  Each year your garden space will get better and better.  Apply your fertilizer before the last tilling.
• Weed Control ...... I've found that the more you cultivate your garden the easier it is to control grasses and weeds.  The areas that can not be tilled (right next to the plants) use a good old fashion garden hoe.  Get the weeds and grasses when they are still small and it'll only take a few minutes.  If you wait till they get big and thick, you'll not only have a job on your hands but your chances of damaging your vegetable plants will be much greater.  Make it easy on yourself.
• Insect Control ......  Sevin Dust has been around for many years because it's effective.  I'll use it when the plants are young and up to the point of flowering.  I'm not too crazy about using it after the vegetables start forming unless absolutely necessary.  If you get a rain after applying Sevin Dust, apply it again as it washes off real easy and is no longer effective.  You can get it at any Garden Center.
• When should I plant ......  Go online or contact you county agent's office and get a "planting guide" for your state / planting zone.  They'll also have info on what varieties are best for your area.  Planting guides are recommended dates and doesn't necessarily mean you can't plant before or after those dates.  Experimenting is part of the fun of gardening.
• Watering ...... Everything I've read indicates that a vegetable garden requires approx 1" of rain or watering per week.  Maintaining a garden calendar to record rainfall helps manage your watering schedule.

More to come!