Hugelkultur – For Squash, Tomatoes, Melons and More!

Q: I am a beginner at gardening and I want to start growing my own veggies this spring. I want to start a hugelkultur bed. Any tips?

A: Hugelkultur is the process of piling limbs and woody material in a trench then covering it with rich soil. As the wood deteriorates it makes an excellent rooting area for squash, melons, tomatoes and peas. All you have to do is pile up the woody material, stomp it down tight, cover with amended soil, then plant. Gardeners who have tried it advise adding a bit of extra fertilizer the first two years to compensate for that used in decomposing the wood but the nutrients will be released back to your garden plants in years to come.