Hey permies,
I am starting a vegetable bed at a my new home. Can you double check my work to see if I'm making a newbie mistake?
I have seedling starts that are doing well. I know about hardening them off. I'll transplant and direct sow other plants after my last frost date. I've read up on amending my
local soil (North Carolina clay). I'll have soil test results in about 2 weeks. This won't be a
raised bed but the (sunny) area is slightly higher in elevation than neighboring portions of my
yard, so I think this will assist in clay's drainage issue in addition to my amendments.
I've mapped out the beds with sticks and string, and I aimed for curvy paths with internal forks and keyholes (I'll have to post pictures later). I did this because I heard it can confuse pests relative to straight rows. Also I'm thinking it will create variation/ecological niches so I can learn my plants' preferences. Hopefully it will limit
deer and rabbit access too. I'm planning to place taller plants on the north side. I'll be doing a three sisters guild and some variations where I switch corn for amaranth or sunflowers. Bushy plants (bush beans, peppers) will be on the south/periphery. Do you know if interplanting beans with peppers is a good idea (for nitrogen fixation)? I have a packet of rhizobium in occupant. I will plant some dynamic accumulators and beneficial insect attractors.
Incidentally are there deer/rabbit-repellent plants I could place on the periphery?
Here's what I'm most unsure about. I'm planning for dense interplanting. I have an idea that's a spinoff of sheet-mulching and square foot
gardening (but I've been unable to find anyone else who's tried this). I am planning to make 12"x12"
cardboard planting templates. I'll cut holes large
enough to accommodate final stem size. I'll place the templates on top of the amended soil and wet them, and secure them somehow. I'll plant the right seeds in the right holes at the right depth. I'll then mulch with
straw so the cardboard can have some sunblock, and so i don't freak out the neighbors. So it's sort of surface sheet mulching. Theoretically it will keep the weeds at bay for my sown seeds and keep the soil moist. Do you see any problem with this? I'll mulch the paths as well.
Thanks in advance for your help and insights. I'll post some pictures when I'm able.