A Vegetable Garden to be Proud of

March 15th. So, here is is just over a week to Spring, and we've had a few dry days, so we're going to prepare the soil for planting. This is our 3rd year for the vegetable garden. Originally a sloping lump of clay and stones, we actually turned it over with a shovel the first year and managed to get a few good vegetables for our trouble.
By the 2nd year, we had built the retaining walls, and sidewalk. We also composted everything that we could, grass clippings, leaves, eggshells, every kind of fruit & vegetable scraps from the kitchen, and even some straw. We put in a half-hearted garden, and had some pretty good production from it.
This is the 3rd year, and it will be the first real garden, with a plan, nicely prepared soil, & a planting schedule to take advantage of what space we have.
Last Fall, we began the process of improving the soil. The compost added last year has made a big difference, but more needed to be done. As Winter came, we shredded the last of the garden refuse, bagged up all of our leaves, and left it to decay. We also seeded the entire garden with rye grass, which will grow through the Winter, and when tilled into the soil will fertilize it. Today, March 12, we got our new Mantis tiller ready, purchased several bales of peat moss, piled on a pile of straw, dumped the rotting leaves, spread it around and tilled it all in. Then raked it all smooth.
April 11. Ever mindful of the changeable weather, we have started planting crops that can stand a little cold. We're planted potatoes, onions, carrots, lettuce, beans, peas, & radishes. We also have 100's of seedlings started indoors for transplant after the last Spring frost has passed.
June 9. It has been a tough Spring, Cold, rain, and now this insufferable heat. Our vegetables are suffering from this combination, and we have only managed to harvest radishes, and some lettuce so far. Coming along nicely are the onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, peppers & watermelons.

July 18. Here are some current photos from both ends. As you can see, all is growing nicely. We have harvested lettuce, cucumbers, peas, garlic, carrots, potatoes & radishes so far. Growing are potatoes, onions, red beans, 3 varieties of peppers, watermelon, 2 varieties of cucumbers, and pumpkins.