11

I have a pretty decent amount of land to put my garden on, but i'm thinking about 20' x 20' split into four cross sections. I am considering 4x 4'x4' areas so I can separate plants that do not do well together, like tomatoes from other nightshades and cucumbers. I also am planning on planting marigolds and a few raspberry/blackberry bushes (if I can get some pre-grown shrubs) between the planter areas to attract ladybugs and praying mantises to help me with my pest control.

My current idea is one region with tomatoes, hungarian and green peppers, and snow peas. One area with cucumbers and cabbages for fermenting. One for sweet potatoes and melons, then one for onions, garlic, turmeric and herbs.

Between each area should be probably a total of 5 raspberry/blackberry bushes evenly distributed with one in the very center. Marigolds and other flowers will be in between and help distinguish pathes between the planter regions.

Sound reasonable?

Thoughts?

I have a pretty decent amount of land to put my garden on, but i'm thinking about 20' x 20' split into four cross sections. I am considering 4x 4'x4' areas so I can separate plants that do not do well together, like tomatoes from other nightshades and cucumbers. I also am planning on planting marigolds and a few raspberry/blackberry bushes (if I can get some pre-grown shrubs) between the planter areas to attract ladybugs and praying mantises to help me with my pest control. My current idea is one region with tomatoes, hungarian and green peppers, and snow peas. One area with cucumbers and cabbages for fermenting. One for sweet potatoes and melons, then one for onions, garlic, turmeric and herbs. Between each area should be probably a total of 5 raspberry/blackberry bushes evenly distributed with one in the very center. Marigolds and other flowers will be in between and help distinguish pathes between the planter regions. Sound reasonable? Thoughts?

26 comments

[–] [Deleted] 1 points (+1|-0)

i didnt realize mantises could survive so far north, i've never seen one around here. guess i just assumed they were more a southern thing. i dont know enough about gardening to comment about much else other than 5 raspberry bushes doesnt sound like enough.

[–] jobes [OP] 1 points (+1|-0) Edited

There are a lot of praying mantises in the midwest, but they are generally the Carolina variety and have been heavily wiped out from pesticides. Similar to how dragonflies have become a rarity up here...to much industry has killed off so many of them.

In grade school I used to catch mantises and dragonflies and bring them into show and tell. I'm just hoping I might be able to attract some, or at the very least help release some in my now fast more rural area

Edit: also doing to buy 5 healthy berry plants that wont succumb to disease seems a bit tough, so that is why i'm sticking to just the middle and corners for that for now. Still gives great haven to mantids and keeps them far enough apart on case any are diseased, then I can replant next year with the ones that did well to make more

[–] [Deleted] 1 points (+1|-0)

oh man, i didnt realize how long its been since ive seen a dragonfly. suppose its a matter of time before the monarchs are gone too.

[–] jobes [OP] 1 points (+1|-0) Edited

Man we used to have so many just massive dragonflies that would swarm into my parent's garage. They would be 4-6 inches long and would just start eating themselves when they got locked in for too long.

It has been a long time since that was a common problem even though the property has not moved.

I think taking a stand against modern pesticide is more of a right wing issue than left wing these days. Preserve our land.