I plant my vegetable garden in 4 ft by 50 ft raised beds that are 15 inches high, with the soil that exists here (sandy loam), a core down the center that is 12 inches wide with straw wet down well, the core of straw is 10 inches deep, then the soil put back on top. I drip irrigate on the surface with a drip line with holes every 6 inches. I direct sow most seeds and mulch with 6 inches of straw on top of the drip line and around each plant once the seedlings emerge, then another 6 inches of straw when the plants are 12 inches or more tall. In my hot, dry climate where summer temps reach 100 to 110 at 12percent humidity, the soil stays perfectly moist 1 inch deep and all the way down with a watering schedule that is every other day for 10 minutes. The plants thrive, never get leaf diseases and produce intensively. Every winter here, which is very mild and rainy, I pull back the straw, Then top dress the soil with 1 inch of worm casings, and 1 inch of composted chicken manure, then put the straw back on top. This produces intensive results consistently.
I plant my vegetable garden in 4 ft by 50 ft raised beds that are 15 inches high, with the soil that exists here (sandy loam), a core down the center that is 12 inches wide with straw wet down well, the core of straw is 10 inches deep, then the soil put back on top. I drip irrigate on the surface with a drip line with holes every 6 inches. I direct sow most seeds and mulch with 6 inches of straw on top of the drip line and around each plant once the seedlings emerge, then another 6 inches of straw when the plants are 12 inches or more tall. In my hot, dry climate where summer temps reach 100 to 110 at 12percent humidity, the soil stays perfectly moist 1 inch deep and all the way down with a watering schedule that is every other day for 10 minutes. The plants thrive, never get leaf diseases and produce intensively. Every winter here, which is very mild and rainy, I pull back the straw, Then top dress the soil with 1 inch of worm casings, and 1 inch of composted chicken manure, then put the straw back on top. This produces intensive results consistently.