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PeteD · February 4, 2007

I think it depends on the quality of your growing media and the moisture content. I used Mel's mix (compost, vermiculite and peat moss) in 12" deep raised beds this year with shreaded oak leaves for mulch. I only had to water with my soaker hoses 5 or 6 times the whole summer (it was wet in June) and grew a bunch of plants between 5 and 11 feet tall.

When I pulled the plants, the root balls averaged less then volleyball size with a couple of strangler roots going off in some direction or another. I think that the change in philosophy for tree-planting provides some insight. They used to say dig a bigger hole and fill it with rich soil. But, when you do this, you discourage root growth and the resulting tree stability. I think if you have rich soil that you keep moist, you don't need to till that deep - the roots don't go far because they aren't lacking anything.

February 4, 2007	#6
PeteD Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: MA Z6a Posts: 72	I think it depends on the quality of your growing media and the moisture content. I used Mel's mix (compost, vermiculite and peat moss) in 12" deep raised beds this year with shreaded oak leaves for mulch. I only had to water with my soaker hoses 5 or 6 times the whole summer (it was wet in June) and grew a bunch of plants between 5 and 11 feet tall. When I pulled the plants, the root balls averaged less then volleyball size with a couple of strangler roots going off in some direction or another. I think that the change in philosophy for tree-planting provides some insight. They used to say dig a bigger hole and fill it with rich soil. But, when you do this, you discourage root growth and the resulting tree stability. I think if you have rich soil that you keep moist, you don't need to till that deep - the roots don't go far because they aren't lacking anything.