Mittlider beds: their design, advantages and disadvantages

Beds according to Mittlider
A clean, well-groomed vegetable garden, with even, perfect beds is the dream of any land owner. And if such a garden does not require too much effort, then many experienced gardeners simply will not believe in the existence of such a plot. But it turns out there was a man who, with his ideas, helped make the dreams of thousands of gardeners come true. This man's name was Jacob Mittlider. This is an American botanist, who for many years of his life was enthusiastically engaged in growing plants on small family plots. areas. Many of his ideas, including the arrangement of beds according to the mittlider, are used daily by a huge number of people who like to engage in homestead farming.
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Gardening techniques of D. Mittlider

Even when it became possible not only for professionals, but also for amateurs to use a variety of equipment for cultivating the land, the American botanist D. Mittlider believed that small areas can be processed and maintained in decent condition without unnecessary physical and material costs with the help of:
  • shovels
  • choppers
  • rake
Using only mineral fertilizers from chemicals and relying on Mittlider's agricultural techniques, you can always have a rich harvest and grow vegetables in accordance with their varietal characteristics. Who will ever see garden beds, arranged according to the midget leader, then he will immediately have a desire to arrange his own garden in the form of narrow, level beds. The width of each bed in Mittlider's garden is 45 cm, length 4.5 meters. The beds are separated by paths for ease of movement and raised above ground level. The width of the paths is 0.9 m. This allows not only comfortable movement around the site, but also creates adequate lighting for the plants.
beds
In addition, with this device it is easy to organize watering the beds and adding mineral fertilizers to the soil. Mittlider was opposed to adding manure and humus to the soil of small family gardens. A number of advantages of Mittlider's beds were immediately received by hundreds of thousands of fans of his farming methods on small family plots. Here are the main advantages:
  • growing plants does not depend on the weather
  • the quality of the crop does not depend on the quality of the soil
  • absence of weeds without the use of chemicals
  • maximum yield from minimum area
  • scanty material costs
  • saving time and effort
  • easy care
  • no need to dig up a larger area than is necessary for growing plants
  • retaining moisture in narrow lined beds and saving on watering
Mettlider's methods are used not only in open ground conditions, but also when constructing greenhouses.

How to arrange beds according to the mittlider and plant plants

The construction of beds according to Dr. Mittlider's method begins with leveling the soil level. If the site is located on a slope, then the soil is leveled using horizontal terraces, that is, steps. Next, the site is marked out into beds and paths. All beds must have a fixed width of 0.45 m.The width of the passages should be 0.9 m, but in extreme cases no less than 0.75 m and no more than 1.05 m. With narrower or wider passages, the full effect of the beds will not be achieved. The length of the bed, depending on the size of the plot, can reach up to 9.0 m.
Video about the mid-lider method when forming beds:
The beds should be separated from the paths by sides. They can be made from any material, but it is preferable to take wooden boards. If the beds using this method are arranged in a greenhouse, then their width can be reduced to 0.3 m, and the width of the passages to 0.5 m. For greenhouse beds, their horizontal position is also important placement. Beds built using this method are especially effective in very low and wet areas.

Planting crops on Mittlider beds

When placing seedlings of different crops, you need to ensure that all plants are located at the same distance. This makes it easier to care for and harvest. The most convenient thing is to make your own ruler - marker. Where each mark will be placed at a distance of 17.5 cm from the other. With the help of such a marker it is easy to make markings for landings plants at a distance of 35 and 70 cm. Along the width of the bed, small crops such as onions are planted in two longitudinal rows, and tomatoes, potatoes and cucumbers - in one row.

Disadvantages of gardening according to Mittlider

bed

The main disadvantage is the need to construct sides from expensive materials. Considering the prices of wood, even wooden lining of the ridges will require financial investment.In addition, it will require regular treatment with antiseptics to prevent and prevent various fungal and putrefactive microorganisms. It should also be taken into account that leveling each bed horizontally will also require certain costs.
Those gardeners who exactly followed Dr. Mittlider's instructions over the years nevertheless switched to organic farming and began to apply not only mineral, but also organic fertilizers. This immediately increased the yield of many crops.
In addition, while growing vegetables in Mittlider beds in greenhouses without the use of organic matter, many gardeners noticed the disappearance of earthworms, without which it is almost impossible to get a good harvest indoors. ground. This was another reason to deviate from the methods of the famous American farmer. Thus, by accepting and using all the best of Mittlider’s agricultural techniques, you can supplement them with your own experience and best practices and get your own wonderful garden.
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