How to Grow A Garden Without Dirt

Growing a garden in a bed without soil is inexpensive and much easier than wondering if your soil will grow a garden.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wood for garden bed, 1x12" pine is good or some rail road ties. Needs to be at least 12 inched deep. And 8ft long
• 2-4ft 1x12" for ends
• One Bale of alphafa hay, no need for high grade
• Newspapers
• 1 bale of straw
• 2-3 40lb bags of compost, or homemade compost
• Water
• Nails or screws
• Hammer, saw, drill
• 2x2" posts for corners
• Plants to set when finished

1. 
    
   View of garden bed after planting with wire protection

   Choose a spot for the garden bed. An area that is shaded some hours of the day is good. Like beside a tall fence or garden wall, or garage if space is adequate.
   
   Measure out the area to 4x8ft. rectangle. Mark with string if you want a precise rectangle. Cut all the lumber to fit the size bed you want to make. The 4x8ft. will grow a lot of food, or flowers.
   
   Sharpen 4 of the 2x2 inch posts by sawing of the sides till a point is formed that will drive into the dirt, or have it done at the lumber supply shop. The lumber suppliers will often make a minimum of 10 cuts for about fifty cents each.

2. 
    
   Goony Bird Keeping Watch

   Nail or screw the sides and ends to the corner posts. At least 3 nails or screws to each side board into the post. Level the dirt as you go if the spot is not level by removing some of the existing soil or adding some to low spots.

3. 
    
   Some Green Beans and Tomato Plants

   Take enough newspapers and lay them 2-3 layers deep on the inside bottom of the bed. Wet each layer as you go. This prevents weeds from sprouting through the bottom. Now separate the alphafa hay into flat sections. One bale will cover the entire bed with about a 2 inch layer or so. Now wet this layer also till well soaked. Next is the compost layer. This needs to be about 4 inches deep. Spread the compost over the hay layer and even out. Now water the compost until it is saturated. Let the bed sit a bit and settle, then start laying out the plan for placing the seeds or plant starts.

4. 
    
   More Views of The Garden After Planting

   Plant some seeds along the ends for easy access to picking or tending. The larger plants can take a spot in the mid section. Leave enough room for growth, and any support cages tomatoes might need. Bush green beans are good to start from seeds. Keep the bed wet but not soggy till all the plants get set, and the seeds sprout. Only water when the plants don't perk up after the sun is off of them at the end of the day. Early morning watering is best. Never when sun is hitting the garden. Don't want to boil the beans yet!

Tips & Warnings

• A few seeds in the hay might sprout. Pull them and feed them to the bird, or compost. Dig down a couple of layers and make sure all is fully watered but not to soggy.
• You can hoe the garden when the plants get tall enough, but not much hoeing is needed. Just keep the compost loosened somewhat. Place chicken wire around if rabbits are in your area, or dogs that like cool places to lay.
• Start over in the fall with winter vegetables.
• Don't over feed with plant food, the compost will have a lot, but as watering and growing take place more fertilizer may be needed, LIGHT HANDED ON THAT. Replace compost as needed. Wind can take away compost just as it does top soil in fields.

[static404]

on 9/18/2009 Excellent gardening advice. Thanks.

[kittycooks]

on 7/28/2009 Compost is filled with nutrients, my mom's tallest plants were always volunteers in the compost bin. I'll bet your garden is the rave of the neighborhood!

[ReuseItAll]

on 7/26/2009 This is inspiring! This is my first year growing my own fruits and veggies as well as starting a compost bin. I'd love to give your technique a try. I'm also going to forward this along to a few gardener friends who are way more experienced then me!! I'm sure they will love this idea as well.

[StacyP]

on 6/19/2009 What a novel way to grow a garden (at least to me!). Dirtless gardening sounds like something I want to give a try. Thanks for sharing this.

[christye]

on 6/9/2009 Great article!