A vegetable garden for the "lazy" without much hassle: useful tips and tricks

What does "lazy vegetable garden" mean?

It would be fair to replace the word "lazy" with the word "smart", because this technology was invented by very rational people who strive to obtain high results with a minimum expenditure of time and effort. This is the meaning of the idea.

Lazy farming principles

Lazy farming eliminates unnecessary labor and investment. Everything grows on organic matter, it is also used as fertilizer, the plots for the beds are ennobled, and the yield is growing every year. Yes, this is possible, because on the beds for the lazy, everything is done according to the mind and a new rational scheme.

What are the principles of this approach:

• they do not dig the earth, but only loosen the top layer to a depth of 5-7 cm;
• do not weed and loosen after rain - mulch copes with this;
• do not water the plants often - the same mulch prevents the evaporation of moisture;
• do not use mineral fertilizers, but increase soil fertility due to organic matter growing on the site.

Following these principles, the gardener significantly saves his time and energy, while receiving excellent harvests, as well as the opportunity to have more rest in the country.

Garden organization rules

The organization of lazy farming involves the observance of the following rules:

• reduction of the cultivated area - achieved by arranging raised beds;
• mulching the beds;
• joint planting - some plants (garlic, lavender, marigolds) serve as good protection against pests, so it is recommended to plant them between vegetable crops;
• repeated sowing - the place should not be empty, therefore, the garden for tomatoes and peppers is planted with radishes, spinach in the spring, and in the summer, after harvesting the garlic, greens are sown immediately;
• sowing green manure - in organic farming this is the main method that allows you to increase soil fertility;
• observance of crop rotation - it is impossible to plant crops of the same family on the garden bed from year to year.

Video "Smart beds: principles of organization"

This video provides useful tips and tricks for planning and laying out a plot for a vegetable garden.

We plan a vegetable garden

Now let's figure out what needs to be considered when planning the beds.

The area of ​​the organized beds

The area of ​​the beds on the site should occupy no more than a third of the entire territory. The length of the beds can be any, from 40 cm to several meters. But the width should be such that the gardener can easily reach the middle without stepping on the garden bed itself. The width of the aisles between the beds is calculated taking into account the growing crops. Usually 50-60 cm is enough, but if you plan to plant potatoes, cabbage, then the passages should be increased to 80 cm.In short, the width of the aisles should be such that it is comfortable to walk on them.

For many summer residents, the problem is the abundance of the harvest, which has to be distributed. And this happens due to the fact that vegetables and fruits are tied in a larger volume than the family needs, and at the same time extra work is invested. Therefore, think in advance what exactly and in what quantity you will grow, taking into account consumption and harvesting, then make a list of crops.

The table of crop yields will help to determine the list of plants and calculate the area of ​​the plot for the beds:

Accurate location

When planning the beds, first of all, the degree of illumination of the site should be taken into account. Almost all plants need a lot of sun. There are no vegetable crops that can grow in the shade at all, and if they are planted there, the yield will decrease many times. Therefore, it is better to allocate shaded areas for recreation areas, and allocate open areas for beds.

You need to decide on the place right away, since moving the beds is not desirable, because a fertile layer is formed there. It is also necessary to choose the location taking into account the cardinal points. The areas located from south to north are best illuminated, vertical beds on trellises can be placed along the southern walls. To make it easier to implement, draw a schematic plan in advance.

Cultures for cultivation

Smart people prefer to get a crop quickly and without unnecessary work, therefore, crops are chosen that do not require complex care. These include: beans, peas, pumpkins, zucchini, corn. These plants can be simply planted and remembered when the harvest is ripe. Seedling crops are also easy to care for: tomatoes, peppers, different varieties of cabbage. Be sure to grow greens, radishes, salad at hand.

Exotic and thermophilic crops should not be planted in lazy beds - they may not withstand winter frosts, especially in the Urals or Siberia. Always choose varieties that are suitable for your region, since certain types of cucumbers and tomatoes require the construction of greenhouses, and this is already costly.

By the same principle, you can plan a "smart" garden by choosing unpretentious trees and shrubs that do not need to be cut.

How to make smart beds with your own hands

For beauty and practicality, it is recommended to fence each garden bed around the perimeter. Curbs can be made from many materials at hand.

From planks

Arrangement of the fence must be started with the manufacture of a box of the required size. For strength, fasten the structure in the middle with slats. The boards themselves should be varnished and painted to prevent decay of the material.

Slate

A slate sheet is cut into pieces with a height of 0, 4-0, 5 m and dug in along the perimeter of the beds at half its height. In the corners, the structure is fastened with special ties, metal reinforcement is laid inside for strength, preventing the curvature of the walls.

From plastic boxes

If the farm has extra vegetable boxes, they can also be used as curbs. First you need to detach the walls of the box, then dig them in around the perimeter and fix them with wire. You can also use the boxes in their entirety, placing them over the entire area and filling them with soil.

Of bricks

Such a fence will last a long time, but you need to understand that it is impossible to transfer a brick structure without breaking it. For stationary beds, it is advisable to pour the foundation, on which then lay the bricks. An easier option is to dig in half of the bricks directly into the ground.

Mobile beds

In this case, all kinds of containers are used: barrels, containers, bags. Any container can be filled with soil and plants can be planted there.The advantage of mobile beds is that they can be moved around the site and, if necessary (frost, rain), brought into the room.

Organization of the irrigation system

Many summer residents organize watering with a hose, watering can or bucket. However, this is hard work that can be minimized. The smart garden uses a drip irrigation system. It is not difficult to make it, even beginners can do it.

The system can be stationary or temporary. For a stationary system, a main pipe is brought to the site. One end of it is attached to the water tap, and on the other, wiring is done at the level of the beds. The purchase of a ready-made plastic hose with already made holes will help to simplify the task.

Important! The scheme for laying pipes for drip irrigation must be developed even at the stage of planning the beds, before arranging the curbs.

Mulching the site

One of the rules of lazy farming says that there should not be bare soil on the beds. Thus, moisture evaporation is reduced, the fertile layer is formed faster and, most importantly, weeds do not grow. All this is achieved by mulching. It is better to use organic matter as mulch: rotted sawdust, needles, hay, straw, cut grass and seedless green manure. If it is not possible to update the mulch, you can use inorganic materials: black film, cardboard, expanded clay.

Helpful tips and feedback

Summer residents who have long been practicing lazy farming have the following recommendations for beginners:

• bring only organic matter into the garden - mineral complexes destroy the fertile layer, which has been formed over the years;
• sow green manure in autumn - as soon as the bed is free, immediately sow mustard, phacelia, oats;
• during autumn sowing, it is not necessary to embed green manure in the soil, it is enough just to cut the tops and lay them in the beds;
• cut green manures before the budding process begins - the softer the greens, the faster they rot;
• for an early harvest, cover the garden with white covering material.

There is no smart dacha without lazy beds. However, the principle of lazy farming can be applied not only in the beds, but also throughout the entire plot: a lawn instead of weeds, green manure and flowers in near-stem circles, flower beds of perennials. All this is easy to equip using the advice of experienced summer residents.