Preparing a New Garden Site

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As soon as the soil is workable in the spring, turn over the sod of a new garden site by plowing, rototilling or hand spading. Prepare the soil at least 8 inches deep. Increase this depth each year until you reach 10 to 12 inches. Do not work the soil when it is very wet because you can damage its structure by compacting it. If the soil crumbles readily rather than sticking together, you can proceed safely.

Continue to work the plot until the coarse, lumpy texture is replaced with a fine, granular one suitable for a seedbed. Do not overwork the soil to a powdery fine condition which will cause surface crusting. After you have appropriately tilled the soil, add organic material and fertilizer as recommended.

If you want raised beds, throw the soil from the paths into 3- to 4-foot-wide beds after adding organic matter. This extra soil plus the added organic matter will raise the beds a few inches higher. If you like, boards or stones can hold the soil in place. For the last preparation step, rake the soil surface smooth and lay off rows. Now you are ready to plant seeds or set transplants.