Preparing the bed for next Spring

I know I want to add some composted manure to my vegetable garden for next year. Should I do that now after completing my harvest, or wait until early Spring? Also, I plan to have a soil sample analyzed. Again, should I do that now before adding the compost? I'm looking for a time table of what to do and when to do it.

Rreznikoff,
I'm a relative newbie who doesn't know all that much. But one thing I do know that I've learned on DG -- do what you can now, and don't wait. These growing seasons do not wait for us, so we've got to be ready and on time for the planting windows. Start early!

I'd get the soil sample first. Since your current harvest may be coming to an end, I'd wait to put the compost down as it will just be wasted on plants that are about to mature? I may be wrong, cause I don't know when you're harvest will mature.

You're in AL, so that would be about a Zone 8b? Check your local County Extension office for a planting chart for your area, and find out your growing zone. When you do, go to your "preferences" tab and list it. This makes it easier for other growers to address your questions.

If you are in Zone 8a-8b, I think you can actually plant a fall cole crop for harvest in mid-Spring (all the root crops, turnips, beets, carrots), cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, corn, and winter squash (acorn, butternut). Are you doing a fall garden?

Check out a thread in the Tomato growers Forum called "It's almost time for fall seedlings what are YOU planting?" There's a timeline discussion going on with a number of growers who are planning a fall crop. I think there are some AL growers in that discussion.

Hopes this helps!

Linda, who is getting over her own procrastination and who will outfit her 5-gallon grow buckets (eBuckets), lay the soil in her 2 newly expanded raised veggie beds, and put together the wood cage tomato trellis that's all cut out and only needs to be screwed together, this weekend...and who will personally answer to rreznikoff on Monday if it's not done! (I need built-in accountability measures sometimes...) ^_^

rreznikoff - I agree with Gymgirl, put in a fall garden if you can. If you are not inclined to do so, then here's what I suggest:

If your compost is finished, then I would wait until just before spring to add it to your beds. If the compost is not finished, then I would go ahead and do it a month or so before the cold weather sets in in your area so it has a chance to break down over the winter.

Either way, I don't think it matters too much. I regularly put unfinished compost on my vegetable beds as a mulch, and it feeds the plants as it breaks down in the hot weather.

Thanks, Honey!

You're welcome, Gymgirl - I haven't forgotten that photo I owe you of my 25 gallon pots. Hopefully I can get to it this weekend. I'm on dial-up with AOL at home so it takes forever-and-a-day to get anything from the camera to the internet. Then I have to email the photos to myself here at work, and upload to DG. This work computer is lightning fast!

Yeah,
I'm doing kinda the same thing cause the work computer is so much faster. I do have DSL at home, but the configurations on my laptop are different enough to frustrate me from working there.

Look, don't worry about that pic. The website answered my question. I'd just like to know how much potting mix such a large container takes. I'm considering moving my tomato operation to larger pots than the 5-gallon eBuckets I've been using. They seem to need more root room than the eBuckets are allowing. Maybe up to 7-10 gallon containers/grow bags. I'm considering getting 2 yards of soil for my 2 raised root crop beds, and wanna know how much more I'd need to accommodate several larger containers for the 'maters.

I'm thinking I'll still use the eBuckets, but for individual plantings of the broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage & brussels sprouts, and maybe dribble a winter squash or two outta couple.

Linda

I would do it now and in the spring! Also, if you're not going to plant a fall garden, and you should be able to in your area, then plant a cover crop and till it under in the spring.