Vegetables Gardening - Growing Organic Vegetables

Jim, can you tell me the best way to put the beds away for the winter. Because of our very bad clay soil I till into each bed about 3 inches of compost every fall and let it set through the late fall and winter. When tilling it pretty much wipes out the beds. I started thinking after everything is tilled your ground is pretty much flat. Will this flat ground be more likely to be eroded from the winter winds? Is it best to leave the beds up so when the wind blows there will not be as much erosion. Whats the best thing to do to your beds for the winter for erosion precautions.

Scott

Scott & Group:

I rarely till everything the way you describe, because it becomes more work to re-build the beds in the spring. I prefer to use a narrow (12") tiller and till only the interior of the beds - not because of soil erosion, but to minimize work.

There is no particular benefit to be gained from tilling the aisles. Deep tilling brings up weed seeds that have lain dormant just waiting for exposure to good growing conditions. I will occasionally SHALLOW-till the aisles if weeds have become a problem, but I prefer the 2-way hoe for that purpose.

I have never seen wind strong enough to cause erosion to a level garden with 4" ridges.

Jim Kennard

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