i posted this on the tomato forum and then decided it really belonged here. so if you read it already please forgive me.

well i go to a lot of trouble to lay out my garden to make irrigation a lot easier with out having to use sprinklers.

i have a 8 horse troy built tiller that has a plow attachment to make my trenches.

i have a large garden area, larger then i can handle by my self so i can do different thing then most.

my rows are 30-40 feet long and 3 feet appart. every other row i trench 6 inches deep 3 feet wide so i have a 6 inch deep trench 3 feet wide then a 3 feet space and then another trench.

i use a laser level and a yard stick and make the bottom of the trench level with in 1 inch.

i wrap the end of a hose with an old towel so that the end of the towel is open the other end of the towel is warped around the hose and wired on so it will not come off. i lay the hose in the trench and turn the water on and fill the trench. this prevent erosion.

i go vertical with all my vine plants.

this allows me to till between all the rows. the raise part between the rows does not get water and that discourages weed growth. after tilling i only need to weed between the plants. i use an action hoe so i can do most of my weeding standing up.

my trellises are designed to come down easy so i can put the garden to rest each fall easier. i can spread compost with a spreader and then we disk it in several times. in the spring we use a tractor mounted tiller several time to discourage the weeds and get the garden well prepared to sow.

there is a local dairy farmer that make compost. he adds sawdust from the local sawmill. he has a machine that turns his windrow compost several time during decomposition. he does take it to 160 degrees F. his price is 20 dollars a ton and he will not sell until it is as least a year old.

we put 10 ton on 3/4 acres.

i also have a compost tumbler to make compost for side dressings of compost tea and compost for the heavy feeders.

well it all works for me and i do have nice gardens.

i know this is more info that you asked for but the hole picture make more since.

my trellis design i have to emit is a bit of innovation.

i am a retired electrical contractor with an engineering degree. so i used material i was familiar with.

i start with t post and put three in a 30 foot row and 4 in a 40 foot row. i use tie wire to tie 6 1/2 foot 1/2" EMT conduit to the t post. i use 1/2" ridged conduit for a top bar and i use 12 AWG wire warped 1 complete time around the top bar plus enough to bring the lose end together with one or two twist so they are together. one of these for each vertical suport. i put the ends of these into the open end of the 1/2" EMT and i have a bar 6 1/2 feet above each row that is a vine plant.

i use red or orange bailing twine to tie up each plant and train the plant up the twine. this keeps the ground clear so i can till and hill easier.

i know it is a lot of work but weeding and harvesting is so much easier.

you are going to have to work just as mush one way or the other. i just like an organize garden that will produce a lot of product.

my joy is sharing the bounty.

for what is is worth.

Dean