Part of Topic 3 for Viva La Veg

1. Topic 3: Prepare a garden bed for planting
Soil preparation
Building soil that promotes healthy
growth

2. Topic 3: Prepare a garden bed for planting
Building your soil
Soil is best prepared over time
This bed has had a combination
of seaweed and dried sheep
manure added and left for 3
months
It is now ready to be worked into
the soil

3. Topic 3: Prepare a garden bed for planting
Tools required
This is a specialist fork which is
designed to aerate your soil.
It has long flat blades that
penetrate deeply into the soil as
you turn the soil over.
Note the seaweed which has not
broken down was put in the
compost

4. Topic 3: Prepare a garden bed for planting
Planting board
I use a planting board to stand on
when I am cultivating so I don’t
compact my soil
Some people use these when
they are replanting their beds,
hence the name.

5. Topic 3: Prepare a garden bed for planting
Cultivation technique
You need to dig deeply and
thoroughly mix the soil layers by
breaking up and turning over the
soil .
Don’t make hard work of it break
the task up by taking rests, sit
and enjoy your garden.

6. Topic 3: Prepare a garden bed for planting
Partly cultivated bed
Once the bed has been
completely dug or forked over
break up any remaining large
clumps.
Remove any weeds or debris

7. Topic 3: Prepare a garden bed for planting
Completed bed
Bed ready for finishing off.
Most people rake and contour
(shape) the bed as the final
preparation before planting

8. Topic 3: Prepare a garden bed for planting
Finishing the bed
Rake it smooth to form a level
planting surface.
This also helps to further break
up the soil so it is left friable and
ready for planting

9. Topic 3: Prepare a garden bed for planting
Completed bed
Should be left:
●
Smooth and level
●
Weed and debris free
●
Soil should be fine and
crumbly

10. Topic 3: Prepare a garden bed for planting
Completed bed
You can prepare the soil in part
of a bed only.
Here we have worked up the soil
adjacent to this planting of Garlic
which has been growing for 3
months.
We can now plant out the rest of
the bed.

11. Topic 3: Prepare a garden bed for planting
Planting the bed
Now that we have finished
preparing the soil we can begin
to plan the layout of our new
plantings and commence
planting our transplants.