Analysis paralysis IS more common, with the Internet and with huge number of choices. There was a thing in the paper that just going to get a pair of JEANS (even a guy, not me) brings 100 or more options. Even this forum can instill paralysis--wait wait, back up, big picture--I know I do that. Back to raised bed. Along lines of making it good enough but not overly good (or expensive), and at risk of incurring more paralysis, you might think about whether you are going to use some trellis, tripod poles for veggies, etc and then think, will I have a problem with what will "go" with my proposed box? So you might want to reserve some $$ for some of these raised-bed veggie-supporting accessories of nicer construction or materials, and/or keep the basic bed from getting so "fine" that you can't grow peas. I'm thinking of something that might remain in the bed during the winter and provide "vertical interest" and so might be designed to be inherently attractive as well.

If your planting area is already 30% compost you may not need anymore until next season, it depends on the quality of the compost. I also ditto the idea of seaweed. I have used it successfully for 40 years. I also use Super Thrive for 3-4 weeks after transplanting as it stimulates roots, but so does seaweed. I also use Spray N. Grow for the first 2 months of the season as it stimulates blooming and fruiting and seems to improve taste. Manures are great but be advised: horses do not digest weed seeds. I learned that the hard way. I did have a great stand of wildflowers and native plants though! I use several fertilizers as I am still experimenting. One I like for my alkaline(7.6) soil is Acid Mix, a plant based organic. It helps counteract the alkaline soil and water. Since you are just starting there will be a learning curve. Give yourself some time. I considered myself a good organic gardener for many years and got wonderful yields of everything I tried. Then I moved to "the country" and mother nature taught me a lesson big time. Dead fruit trees, stunted veggies, fungal soil disease killing stuff, 30 mph winds shifting directions in early spring, varmints stealing what few peaches I have ever gotten. Humbling⦠but at 6 years of trying I am getting decent yields of everything pretty much as long as the varmints don't wipe me out. I kept trying. One of my store bought composts ,as it turned out, had way too much wood in it and was sucking what little nitrogen I had out of the soil. Aha, switched to a good turkey compostâ¦. major improvement. At any rate, enjoy it and best of luck! Keep us advised of your progress and experiences. I only tried gardening in Colorado one season and we had to move before anything really got going.

Around local nurseries I have only found the plain green variety. They grow well, but I don't overwinter them because they are just too plain and too readily available. ALso, I have had trouble overwintering dahlia's so I may have just (unjustly?) probably lumped these into the same category as "easier to treat as annuals". But just yesterday I got my Brent&Beckys summer bulb catalog and I think I am going to get a couple of interesting varieties for a change. illustris looks great. Prices were good. (haven't looked at shipping costs yet, but bulbs and tubers should be better than potted plants) THen the Canna pictures caught my eye, then the dahlias... HELP!!!

I just remembered. I have had McDonalds burgers many times! Every time I traveled to a different country, I always ended up going to their McDonalds at least once. For instance, when I was in Paris, I was getting tied of French food the last days. Let me tell you, a French Big Mc tasted really good. When I was in Argentina, where they really like meat, I even had a Royal Cheese with wine. Yes, you can get wine with your "Big Mac" there. From Pulp Fiction ------------------------------------------- VINCENT: ...You know what they call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris? JULES: They don't call it a Quarter Pounder with Cheese? VINCENT: No, they got the metric system there, they wouldn't know what the f??k a Quarter Pounder is. JULES: What'd they call it? VINCENT: Royale with Cheese. JULES: Royale with Cheese. What'd they call a Big Mac? VINCENT: Big Mac's a Big Mac, but they call it Le Big Mac. JULES: What do they call a Whopper? VINCENT: I dunno, I didn't go into a Burger King. -------------------------------------- dcarch This post was edited by dcarch on Fri, Jan 16, 15 at 14:36