I've found that layers of newspaper won't cut it.

A couple layers of cardboard will block out weeds much better. If you can't get your hands on cardboard around the house, go to one of the low cost supermarkets that put out all their cardboard boxes for people to use to carry groceries home. Or check behind appliance stores.

Also, if I understood correctly, having a 4 foot wide bed that is inaccessible on one side is REALLY hard to utilize fully because you can't reach across that. It's actually a bit of a stretch to reach across a 4 ft wide bed if you have access from both sides.I'd say 3 foot at MOST if it's only accessible from one side.

Hamiltongardener is correct about the 4 foot wide inaccessible bed. You should probably make it 2.5 to 3 feet wide (depends on the length of your arm). You want to be able to reach the back of the bed but you don't want to have to step into it and compact the soil unnecessarily.

As for tips, you should plant your veggies in blocks with the plants spaced equally apart in all directions rather than in long rows, if you weren't already planning to. It will allow more efficient use of your garden space.

Rodney

Sounds like a beautiful garden and a wonderful memorial to your dad!

I agree putting cardboard instead of newspaper. I thought cinder blocks are inert? What is the concern with them?

I thought cinder blocks are inert? What is the concern with them?

I think she means a natural looking setting... stones, wood, probably wood chips in the pathways...

sounds good we are using roofing as sides this time.

len

Here is a link that might be useful: lens bale garden

all good input. i'll go to three foot on the one side accessible, and read somewhere about making the paths too wide...maybe i can do 2 1/2 feet on the paths and 3 on the one sided access beds, and keep the beds accessible on two sides to 4 foot. and yes, in squares as opposed to rows. thanks for that!

the cinder block thing is just an aesthetic element i don't prefer here. do love the aluminum!! a down home look there for sure!!

hadn't thought enough about irrigation. the lawn has a sprinkler system and this is all on one zone....so, i have done pop up drippers in one bed in another area (which i don't like as you have to plant right at the dripper area to water your plants). I have done the piping with holes every 12 inches in another area (and don't like IT because the holes get clogged and don't work, the hose is collapsable if stepped on, and there is a lot of waste). SO, I am thinking of a central hose with smaller drip emitter hoses coming off of it that i can move as i like to hit what i want. DO YOU HAVE A BETTER IDEA!!!???!!!??

thanks all!!! i am excited about this!

Figure out if you have gophers in the area! If you do, attach hardware cloth (Not chicken wire! The holes are too big and they rot!)
The other mistake I made was to make the paths too narrow! Walk your wheelbarrow or whatever you use through the area you are planting and see if you have enough room to maneuver it to dump things in the future!
If you have room, I would suggest 3' wide so you don't hurt yourself adding compost or soil in a couple of years.
Happy gardening! Nancy

No gophers. Very inner city. And yes, gotta go measure that wheelbarrow! So much info here! I am addicted!

I recommend adding a thick layer of natural mulch beginning in May after the soil warms.
For irrigation, I use drip tape.
The key to getting a good yield in Spring and early Summer is to start early before the bugs and heat become intense.
Raised beds are so important because the soil warms up early.
Row covers have helped me get a jump in Spring and allowed me grow into January. Shade cloth also helps extend the Spring season and get the Fall season started.
Fall is a wonderful season here in Texas. I get a good crop of squash, green beans, peppers plus all the cool season veggies. Speaking of cool season veggies, they do best in the Fall season. Our Springs can get too warm too fast for them to thrive.
For amendments, I like to add green sand each year,compost, and different dry organic fertilizers. Your soil is probably good to go this first season since you purchased a mix, but be sure to add fertilizer, preferably 6 inches deep where the root zone is. I use liquid feedings of fish emulsion, seaweed, compost tea, etc also.
Here's a link to a detailed planting calendar: http://nhg.com/pdf/NTxVegPlanting_spring.pdf. Northaven is pricey, but they have a great selection of plants, seeds, etc. They also have classes I believe.
I usually have extra tomato and pepper plants in the Spring.

Great info and pictures!! What is irrigation tape?? your plants look great suburban!! I will check out that site!

I know I really can only hope for a fall season at this point, and that is ok. and yes, planning for row covers is important.

Okra loves it Hot, Hot, Hot ...

ANOTHER QUESTION (may need to do another post)

How much, realistically, can I expect to grow in 200 square feet. Family of four, no need for herbs, as I interplant them with my other beds.

Tomatoes, beans, peas, greens, squash (not a ton)...these are my main interests, altho am a newbie so I am sure this will change in time as I see what produces well.

How much you can grow in the space allotted depends on what proportions of each plant you choose. You can fit a lot of pea plants into one square foot if you trellis them, for example, but you can only fit one tomato plant (and then only if you single stem and stake it, or grow a small determinate type). You should also take advantage of the varying heights of plants (tomatoes and peas at the back on a trellis, chard and kale in the middle, lettuces and carrots at the front).

Books like "Square Foot Gardening" teach a good method for getting the most out of each bed. If you consider what your family likes to eat, and in what quantity, you can figure out how much to plant using the square foot methodology.

There's another thread going on about how much should I plant? Might want to check into that. Sorry, I tried to do a link and it didn't work. Nancy

http://www.nha.org/images/sites/OH-June2007-5-copy.jpg

copy and paste (can't do better, sorry! i tried!!) on the above to see a picture of the Nantucket 'oldest house' garden i am trying to copy. i realize the wood will rot, i just like the rough hewn look of it.

I make a rough estimate , just to get and idea:

in 200 sqr-ft raised beds you can plant 40 to 50 tomatoes.
( I assume 4 to 5 sqr-ft per plant).
Pepperss, eggplants need roughly same amount of space.
per plant. Squash things(depending on type and whether it is trelise or not) can replace 2 tomato plants. In place of one tomato you plant maybe 10 beans....

FAMILY NEEDS:
I think a reasonable estimat of one plant of tomato per person is enough, if you do not intend canning.Make it 1.5 per person.

ALL IN ALL, for a newbie and a family of 4 an alotment of 200 sqr-ft should be more than enough. You will learn your ropes as you go along. Nobody can teach you every thing here. Gardening is somehow like swimming.; You cannot learn it outside. Got to jump in , strggle, drink some dirty water ..LOL