CULT: raised beds - improvements?

Last summer, I reset some pieces of good survivors here in frosty holler out
into cultivated rows (new ground) where the planted part of the row is raised
about 6 to 8 inches above the plowed middles and is about 12 to 18 inches
wide.  The soil is VERY gravelly/rocky.  Most of the reset plants bloomed,
but many were on stunted stalks or with damaged terminals in contrast to the
parent clumps.  I think those raised gravelly beds and unmulched soil warmed
up even more than the flat beds or beds with weeds, manure or mushroom
compost mulch, or other ground cover and started growth even earlier, which
made them even more susceptible to freeze damage, plus they seem to dry out
too fast and probably don't have as much room for shallow surface roots.

Any inexpensive, low maintenance ideas for improving growing conditions that
is compatible with tractor cultivation and doesn't involve irrigation? 

Linda Mann lmann76543@aol.com east Tennessee USA
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index