We will have a fairly large garden plot. Right now it's a giant weed pile full of brambles, rocks and tall grass. I plan on pulling what I can then tilling it (just this once to get started). The ground is really bumpy and uneven so I'm hoping the tilling will fix that.
Now, I would like to have part of the garden in raised beds (greens, carrots, tomatoes, herbs etc) the rest of it old school with rows. (Squash, pumpkin, potatoes, corn etc). Originally I was planning on having the raised beds at the front of the garden plot with potatoes, corn etc rows towards the back (northern) side. BUT the northern side slopes slightly and tends to get a bit boggy. The past two summers we've had really heavy rains the whole month of July so I sort expect it to happen again this year (just to be on safe side). So in that case, I probably shouldn't plant potatoes in that area, right? Should I build beds in that area to raise veggies up so that water can drain away better?
My other question, because we're tilling it, I would like to find some sort of quick to grow, hardy ground cover to plant in the walkways between the raised beds. At first I was thinking of white clover, but then read it's not great for high traffic areas. I would like something green, not old straw or cardboard/newspaper/carpet. I want it to be pretty.
I'm in zone 4 with last frost date of June 1st so I have two months to get this done. I'm also home full time with no kids so have lots of time to work on it. If it helps, I have some photos here. Click on the third pic down, that is the wet spot I'm talking about. It had been raining for a couple days at that point and I'm guessing the water table/level is higher with all the melting snow/rain we've had this spring so it might be different in the summer.
Also, it's our first real garden (parents gardened off and on growing up) and our first spring in this house so we're still getting to know the lay of the land.
I'm open to any and all suggestions. Thanks!
Now, I would like to have part of the garden in raised beds (greens, carrots, tomatoes, herbs etc) the rest of it old school with rows. (Squash, pumpkin, potatoes, corn etc). Originally I was planning on having the raised beds at the front of the garden plot with potatoes, corn etc rows towards the back (northern) side. BUT the northern side slopes slightly and tends to get a bit boggy. The past two summers we've had really heavy rains the whole month of July so I sort expect it to happen again this year (just to be on safe side). So in that case, I probably shouldn't plant potatoes in that area, right? Should I build beds in that area to raise veggies up so that water can drain away better?
My other question, because we're tilling it, I would like to find some sort of quick to grow, hardy ground cover to plant in the walkways between the raised beds. At first I was thinking of white clover, but then read it's not great for high traffic areas. I would like something green, not old straw or cardboard/newspaper/carpet. I want it to be pretty.
I'm in zone 4 with last frost date of June 1st so I have two months to get this done. I'm also home full time with no kids so have lots of time to work on it. If it helps, I have some photos here. Click on the third pic down, that is the wet spot I'm talking about. It had been raining for a couple days at that point and I'm guessing the water table/level is higher with all the melting snow/rain we've had this spring so it might be different in the summer.
Also, it's our first real garden (parents gardened off and on growing up) and our first spring in this house so we're still getting to know the lay of the land.
I'm open to any and all suggestions. Thanks!
