ok... i am planning a garden (organic of course). this will be my first garden since i lived with my parents about 10 years ago...<br><br><br><br>
anyway. there are two areas in my yard that i plan to use. one area was used as a garden for years (not last year though). and the other area i plan to use, has never been used as a garden and is just overgrowth right now, tall weeds, grass etc.<br><br><br><br>
i understand that i need to sterilize the soil before planting... put black tarp over the land for a month or so... but i just want to make sure that i'm doing everything i need to do... so i have some questions:<br><br><br><br>
* should i try to clear as much of the existing vegetation before covering it with tarp, or does it matter? (i think i can make it all lie flat without removing it...<br><br><br><br>
* will 5-6 weeks be long enough to sterilize the soil? i plan to till the land and plant seedlings by mid-march.<br><br><br><br>
* is there anything else i need to do right now... at this stage, in preparing the land?<br><br><br><br>
i am going to start some of my seeds within the next week or so. i've been thinking about this a lot, i even dreamed about my garden last night...<br><br><br><br>
thanks,<br><br>
~elizabeth
anyway. there are two areas in my yard that i plan to use. one area was used as a garden for years (not last year though). and the other area i plan to use, has never been used as a garden and is just overgrowth right now, tall weeds, grass etc.<br><br><br><br>
i understand that i need to sterilize the soil before planting... put black tarp over the land for a month or so... but i just want to make sure that i'm doing everything i need to do... so i have some questions:<br><br><br><br>
* should i try to clear as much of the existing vegetation before covering it with tarp, or does it matter? (i think i can make it all lie flat without removing it...<br><br><br><br>
* will 5-6 weeks be long enough to sterilize the soil? i plan to till the land and plant seedlings by mid-march.<br><br><br><br>
* is there anything else i need to do right now... at this stage, in preparing the land?<br><br><br><br>
i am going to start some of my seeds within the next week or so. i've been thinking about this a lot, i even dreamed about my garden last night...<br><br><br><br>
thanks,<br><br>
~elizabeth