A good friend of mine visited a boutique vegetable farmer that catered to a few restaurants. He was impressed by the clever methodology and set up of this farmer’s garden where he almost completely eliminated weeding and watering worries. I thought there might be something here for us to use as well. I will do my best to describe all. Let me know if this is not clear and I will attempt to edit.
1 pot or plot of earth
1 piece of heavy black plastic, enough to cover
several eager potted (in plastic or other disposable containers) plants
drip watering set up (encouraged but not essential, don’t stop here, do it anyway, it’ll work out)
1 something-to-cut-a-hole-in-plastic invention of your own (don’t be scared) like a sharp waterglass you shouldn’t be drinking out of but you always give to guests… yes, something like that.
Prepare a piece of earth, either a pot or plot.
Spread out the plastic to cover the dirt. You can secure the edges with nails or those staple like things they sell to secure that fabric you use for weeds. Sorry, I can’t describe this any better than this for now. Make it tight.
Cut holes in the plastic, using the ingenious cutting the plastic device you invent (yes, scissors will do) with sensible spacing giving consideration to the type of veg. you are planting. Pour yourself a glass of wine and take a break.
OK here’s the clever part. Now you cut just the bottom off of each potted veg. and embed the now bottomless plant into the soil in the holes you just cut. Adjust the hole in the plastic and needed. You may have to dig a bit, remove a bit or move around a bit. But isn’t that what you always do with soil, plants and misguided insturctions?
Now you can finish with your drip set up (yes, or not) and cover with mulch! Mulch covers a multitude.
So, you get it, right? The plastic stumps the weeds and the bottoms cut off the potted vegs. let them grow their roots and also drain. The holy grail is to cut the holes ONLY as large as is needed. If you are watering by hand you just have to be sure that the water makes it to the roots via the non-covered by plastic.
You’ll notice that I am avoiding the drip watering conversation. It’s as simple as it is complicated. Think plumbing. Go to Home Depot or other very customer helpful friendly home improvement place and begin there. I don’t have enough fingers to type what there is to do there.
I’d love to know if you give it a go.
