Ves's Experimental Heirloom Corn garden

I really want to plant all of my garden in double-dug beds, as close to the biointensive method described by John Jeavons in “"How to grow more vegetables….”:http://www.bountifulgardens.org/products.asp?dept=113" as I can.

But getting one bed dug took forever…It’s planted with peppers, tomatoes, peas, and corn. I have nine more to go…and it’s the middle of June.

A fellow gardener rototilled the remaining space for me, and recommended adding some lime and just putting plants in…he thinks there’s plenty of fertility in the soil without amendments (I notice he is using heavy doses of straw and manure, at least in sections).

For two of my corn beds, I’m going to split the difference. I will plant add the same amendments to both (manure, lime, compost), plant them both with two varieties of corn, interplanted with beans and squash. But one will be double-dug, and the other will just have the amendments worked in at the top.

BIOINTENSIVE BED (on the right in photo):

I will prepare one bed, rototilled and then double-dug, with chicken manure worked into the lower foot, and lime and a purchased compost added to the top few inches.

ROTOTILLER BED (on the left in photo):

I will prepare one bed, rototilled, with manure and compost worked into the top foot, and the lime raked into the top few inches.

Planting and watering: identical for both beds. I’ll use a timer when watering to give them both the same amount.

The race is on.

Rate of growth (germination, height, etc.) will compared weekly during the growing season.
Harvest, by number of fruit (for ears of corn and squashes and/or squash blossoms) and by weight (shelled corn, beans) squash, will be compared at the end of the growing season.