A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Food Garden Forum Vegetable Gardening starting a new garden

I'm curious if anyone here can advise me the best way to proceed. It's my intention to plant veggies next spring, but I want to get started this year and prepare the soil.

I've read that raised beds are better than planting straight in the ground. I've located the best spot in my back yard, plotted out the area and figured out the size of said boxes. however, in order for me to calculate the total costs needed to fill each box with soil.

If I have a 3' x 6' x 10" box, I know that one yard is 27 cf and the volume on this box is 180. How do I figure how much soil i need to purchase. Also would i need to have a layer of sand on the bottom of each box.

OR - - perhaps I'm going to far in the start of this process. Should I just plant it straight in the ground?

Thoughts? Suggestions?

You have a lot of time to compost quite a few things of your own before spring planting. It is much less expensive that way. If you have and can afford the boxes, I would begin now to lasagna layer them. You can even layer without boxing it all in.
Now, I'm hoping someone will come along with a link about the lasagna method for you.
And welcome to TGH.

Hi Cessie! Welcome to the garden helper!

The choice is entirely up to you if you have a raised bed or plant directly in the ground soil~ either way the soil needs to be amended
Are you going to make your own compost?? click here .............. > [size:11pt] http://www.thegardenhelper.com/compost.html ............
and visit our thread in Organic gardening, //www.agardenersforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=12

[color:#009900]IF you're not going to actually plant veggies until next spring you have plenty of time to make Loads of compost before then,, It makes the biggest difference in your gardens produce, I hadn't heard of it until I joined here and now I can't do with out it at all!!! recycling back to the earth gives us "black Gold in soil,
It will save you in some soil expenses for sure,, and will provide the richest soil for your gardens flower or Veggie!, of course you still admend the compost in with good soils to help build your bed,, and Most if not all bags have " will cover 2 CF" or more depending on what size bags you buy( By lbs).

Living in GA it's not to late to start.. Tomato will produce for you well into the fall as well some other veggies,, actually some veggies you don't even start until about now,,
Please keep up updated and Ask all the questions you want,, someone will have an answer for you, :wink:
[/color]

[/size]

Angel covered it well. Everyones situation is different. For some like me planting in the ground is best,others raised beds and due to space, ect. even growing in bales works better some and then others containers. But like stated you need to amend your soil. I use manure and mulch mainly. If starting now I would get some fairly fresh manure and mix it in well. It will be ready come next spring. Not knowing your garden and situation neither me or anyone else can say which method is best for you. Good luck and keep asking questions. JD