Preparing a New Garden Site – Nourse Farms

Site Selection: Things to Consider

Sunlight

Choose a sunny location. Our plants do best in full sun with 8 hours of direct sunlight daily.

Avoid Low-Lying Areas

Are you thinking about planting in a spot where water accumulates after a rainstorm or is prone to flooding? Think again! While plants need water to survive, they don't like to go swimming! Standing water can lead to root rot, weakened plants, and increased susceptibility to pests and diseases.

Convenience

Choose a location with easy access to irrigation water. If your preferred location lacks access to a hose, consider installing drip irrigation.

Click here to view our Total Drip Irrigation System available for purchase.

Testing Your Soil: Checking Your pH and Nutrient Levels

Our crops require different pH requirements to thrive. We recommend testing your soils in the fall, as pH takes time to adjust. It is crucial to incorporate soil amendments well into the soil, around six (6) to eight (8) inches deep.

Click here to view the Digital Soil pH Meter available for purchase.

Click here to view other grower accessories available for purchase.

Preparing the Ground for Planting: Getting Ready to Dig In

Many new garden spaces start as lawns, perennial weeds, or both! Preparing the ground for planting takes time, so we encourage you to start before spring!

Mulching

Mulching is an effective way to kill weeds by preventing access to sunlight. Since grasses and perennial weeds have expansive root systems and energy supplies, mulching requires using a material that completely blocks light for several weeks or months.

Materials

Whatever material you choose, the layer must be thick enough to entirely block light from reaching the plants growing underneath.

Highly recommended: a heavy piece of black plastic (6 mil or heavier)
Organic material options: leaves, newspapers, wood chips, straw
Materials to avoid: papers printed with colored inks, glossy papers

After you have laid your mulching material, weigh down the edges with sandbags or heavy rocks.

Removal

Only remove the mulch after confirming that all grasses and weeds underneath have died off. It's important not to remove the mulch too soon, as the unwanted plants may be able to grow back quickly!

Fertilizer

A soil test is the best way to determine the nutrients your soil lacks, but a good rule of thumb is to incorporate half a pound (1/2 lb.) of 10-10-10 per 100 square feet into the soil at least two to three weeks prior to planting. Otherwise, do not fertilize until your plants are established (about six weeks after planting).

Weed Control

If all grasses and perennial weeds were not successfully killed with mulching before spring planting, they will try to re-grow and compete with your Nourse Farms crops. In your first growing season with a new garden bed, controlling the weeds is crucial. You can manage weeds by hand-pulling or using a hoe.