Vegetable gardening: Looking good for 2011

There is a good chance you are among the multitude that’s considering planting a vegetable garden in 2011. Somebody on Wall Street may be hitting it big right now, but you and I both can probably count a dozen reasons why a vegetable garden seems like a winning proposition.

You may find yourself wondering where to start. Over the years I have humorously said that the key to the green thumb is how brown it gets first in soil preparation. To be honest soil and soil prep is everything whether you are growing flowers or vegetables.

The winning formula for success whether it’s been the heavy muggy clay to a sandier soil that drains in mere minutes, is to grow the garden on raised beds. Roots of bedding plants have to penetrate soils quickly, anchor plants, and absorb water and nutrients, often under adverse conditions.

What many don’t realize is that in addition to water and nutrients the plants also need oxygen for proper growth. Soil texture plays the most important role in determining whether or not those three needs are met sufficiently to allow the plant to become established and perform to expectations. Desirable soil holds water while allowing for proper drainage. It also provides adequate oxygen for root growth. The raised bed is the best way to meet these needs.

If you are buying into the concept you may be asking, well OK, what do I put into the raised beds. The best gardener I know and have watched for over a decade uses one-third topsoil, one-third sand and one-third compost. I have actually had the luxury of bringing in a truckload of my own prepared mix that was basically the same although it had a good quantity of fine pine bark (pieces less than 1/2 inch).