Growing plants using the mittlider method. Mitlider beds: step by step instructions. Narrow beds on the ground

Dr. Mitlider's views on arranging beds for a rich and tasty harvest are popular because they allow you to achieve results without a fatal increase in costs. "Meatlider in Russian" - these are pretty narrow ridges and tidy greenhouses, competently equipped with their own hands. The reader is provided with detailed drawings that will help plan the territory using the Mitlider technology, as well as instructions for action in video format.

Mitlider's garden - a delight for the eyes and a paradise for greenery

Dr. Mitlider put his personal half-century experience as an agronomist-practitioner, observation and excellent knowledge of plant physiology into the foundation of his method. The method takes into account scientific ideas about the natural needs of a green creature: the exact proportions of microelements, the optimal humidity regime, abundant light for forced synthesis of carbohydrates.

Where to start: a drawing of a future plantation

Oddly enough, but in the Mitlider garden, the main thing is not the scheme of filling the soil with fertilizers, not the organization of irrigation according to the lunar calendar, but the strategically verified marking of the site and strict work planning. Everything depends on the configuration of the ridges and the passages between them: the purity from weed species, the irrigation regime, and the delivery of a portion of life-giving sunlight to each shoot.

Hence the conclusion: in order not to be disappointed, not to get stunted parsnips and bitter carrots, first you need to set aside a day in your busy schedule, draw a detailed plan of your lands and be sure to mark the sides of the horizon on it in order to constantly keep “on a pencil” illumination in the morning, noon and evening time. The ridges should be located in the direction of the meridians, i.e. along the north-south line so that they are not shaded by anything.

First of all, it is necessary to plan the location of future beds

To save water and distribute it evenly, the ridges must be leveled. The more their surface resembles the smooth surface of a forest pond, the less competition the plants will experience from their fellows. In areas with a slope, terraces should be arranged like those that are laid out in mountainous areas. Each step of such a terrace will need to be reinforced with a board.

Stony, depleted, excessively clayey lands are a headache for a vegetable grower. On such inconveniences, it is useless to use natural soil; it will not pay off the invested labor. Instead of ordinary beds, they install wide boxes without a bottom and fill them with a loose mixture of very fine sawdust, river sand and peat. Excellent components of such artificial soil will be perlite or vermiculite, which can absorb and then gradually release moisture.

Roulette, pegs and rope - we outline the boundaries of the ridges

In traditional vegetable growing, wide ridges and narrow aisles are common. The Mitlider method assumes exactly the opposite: narrow ridges with very wide row spacings. At first glance, this layout makes no sense, since most of the plantation is empty and unproductive. However, many years of "field tests" have proven that the less numerous plants of the Mitlider garden are more than productive than the usual thickened plantings, and here's why:

  • plants make the most of the leaf mosaic, and not a single shoot is shaded from the sun;
  • aisles remain dry and trampled down, which excludes the appearance of wild vegetation;
  • the ratio of the sizes "ridge-spacing" allows you to inspect each specimen and quickly find problems in the form of chlorosis, necrosis, pest clutches and other troubles;
  • crops actively photosynthesize and quickly convert soil nutrition elements into useful substances, which means they do not accumulate nitrates.

The classic size of a narrow ridge is 30-35 cm.

The classic size of a narrow ridge is 30-35 cm for any length that fits into the dimensions of the site. Lush crops - pumpkins, zucchini, white cabbage - are planted on it in one line, small ones - onions, dill, carrots - in two lines. Each ridge is framed with an earthen rim, the width and height of which are brought up to 10 cm. The aisles are left 100-105 cm wide.

Tip: If the ground is loose, the sides can be replaced with formwork made of boards or slate. This will prevent the edges of the ridge from blurring and give the garden or greenhouse a neat, pleasing look.

In order for a plant to feed us, we must first feed it.

The Mitlider method involves the systemic use of two mixtures of mineral fertilizers. Mixture No. 1 - lime with boron. Blend #2 is Dr. Mitlider's invention. It consists of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in a ratio of 1.8:1:1.8, as well as magnesium, boron and molybdenum. Both mixtures can be bought or prepared independently.

Mixture No. 1 of lime with boron is applied on the day of sowing seeds and planting seedlings

For the first time, both mixtures must enter the soil strictly on the day of sowing seeds or planting seedlings. This will prevent weeds that have already begun to germinate from gaining a nutritional advantage. They are introduced based on the linear meter of the ridge:

  • mixture No. 1 - 100 g on sandy soils and 200 g on clay soils;
  • mixture No. 2 - 30 g on sandy soils and 50 g on clay soils;

Top dressing during the growing season is carried out with mixture No. 2 weekly in hot summer and once every 10 days in cool. The norm is 25-40 g per linear meter.

Attention! The most tender, absorbing parts of the roots will be located in the top 5 cm of the soil, where there is most food for them. In order not to tear them, loosening should be forgotten.

Features of watering Mitlider ridges

The root system of most vegetable crops needs additional irrigation. This aspect of agricultural technology according to Mitlider technology has certain features:

  • high frequency - in the absence of loosening, destroying the crust and restoring soil capillaries, plants are supplied with water almost every day;
  • only root watering, no sprinkling, which provokes the rapid growth of weeds and the invasion of fungal diseases;
  • only the ridges - the aisles must remain dry, for this purpose the sides around the ridges are erected.

Watering the beds on the mitlider is carried out only by the root method

You can water the Mitlider garden at any time of the day, but evening watering is excluded in August to avoid infection with powdery mildew. In greenhouses, they are trying to establish drip irrigation.

Attention! Lack of moisture always leads to a shortage of crops, since water molecules are directly involved in the chemical reactions of photosynthesis.

How to equip the Mitlider garden in the Russian version

Each technology shows itself irreproachably only where it originated and improved. When trying to transfer it to another environment, nuances appear that require knowledge of local specifics and a fair amount of ingenuity.

Russian private growers are faced with two questions regarding Dr. Mitlider's method.

  1. Modest plots - the classic 6 acres - and low incomes force us to reconsider the size of the row spacing. For tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes, the width of the aisles is left no more than 90 cm, and for undersized radishes, beets, strawberries - even 65 cm. At the same time, the width of the ridges themselves should remain unchanged: 35 cm inside the sides, otherwise the very idea of ​​\u200b\u200bsuch a garden disappears - a continuous stream light on each leaf.
  2. A negative attitude towards mineral fertilizers leads to their replacement with compost, manure, potassium humate and wood ash. Quite often, the soil is dug up with green manure: peas, clover, mustard. Green manure can be sown between apple trees or mowed in floodplain meadows and prepared from them as liquid fertilizer. To do this, the grass is placed in a barrel by two-thirds and filled with water. The infusion obtained after a week and a half is tenfold diluted with water and used for irrigation.

The experience of the owners of summer cottages shows that the method of Dr. Mitlider is quite applicable in Russian conditions and easily adapts to the climate of even Kaliningrad, even Siberia. Narrow ridges are easy to process while sitting on a folding chair, the condition of the plants on them is easy to control on a daily basis. The Russian version of the method allows you to combine moderate labor intensity and the commendable commitment of summer residents to organic matter, which is especially important for people of age.

Beds according to Mitlider - photo


The Mitlider method is a popular vegetable growing method in our country. Thanks to him, you can get a good harvest without putting a lot of effort.

Agriculture has firmly entered our lives through dachas and vegetable gardens. You always want to grow something of your own, but the harvest is far from always plentiful, and plants often get sick and suffer from various pests. Then the Mitlider scheme comes to the rescue, which solves almost all the problems of gardeners. You can learn how the Mitlider method works and how to apply it by reading the implementation of the method.

Dr. D. Mitlider has been studying diseases and methods of caring for plants, in particular vegetables, for a long time. Conducting various experiments gave its results: Mitlider developed a unique scheme for planting crops in the garden, which allowed gardeners to get a bountiful harvest in any weather, climate, seasonality, etc.

This wonderful method consists of the following:

  1. Before planting, it is necessary to create a sowing scheme that will provide future bushes with maximum illumination.
  2. To retain water, you need to form small walls from the ground. On narrow beds, seedlings are planted in 2 rows. You need to follow the characteristics of the planted plant.
  3. Be sure to properly feed the soil and seedlings. Fertilizers are placed 10 cm from the plant to avoid root burns.
  4. Rainwater is not used for irrigation. Saplings are lightly sprayed so that rot does not appear on the roots.
  5. You should know the timing of planting each plant, take into account the climate and frost.

Advantages and disadvantages of the method

Not all sites are suitable for the Mittlider method. Planting according to this method is unsuitable for peat soils, lowlands, northern slopes. For the Russian climate, it is necessary to use fertilizers frequently to make the soil fertile. Light plays an important role, the beds must be provided with plenty of light. Also, do not forget about the correct and abundant watering.

Wide beds make them easy to water, harvest and control pests. Wide beds allow you to immediately detect any plant diseases, get rid of weeds, so the Mitlider method is really convenient and effective.

In general, it can be noted that the Mittlider method has great advantages. Regardless of the condition of the soil, it allows you to get a good harvest, suitable for use in greenhouses and outdoor gardens. During the growth of crops, water is saved, the penetration of slugs and other pests is prevented, due to the wide arrangement of the beds. The Mitlider garden allows you to improve plant growth, health and productivity.

How to land on a Mitlider

The Mitlider method implies an average bed length of about 9 m, a width of about 50 cm, passages are about 1 m. A sanitary zone must be created along the fence. You should not make passages smaller than the specified one, otherwise the plants will cast a shadow on each other, thereby slowing down their growth. In any case, it is worth considering the size of the site and other conditions, but in general it is quite possible to land on the Mitlider.

It is worth considering that the light should fall on the beds evenly throughout the day. Therefore, it is necessary to create passages so that the shadows of the plants do not fall on each other.

The dimensions of the passages can be narrowed by a few centimeters to provide the plants with the right light.

In this case, the bushes should not dry out. The sun's rays should fall evenly and not burn the plants. You should study what kind of lighting is needed for a particular species, for example, tomatoes are best grown in boxes, planting them in one row. Zucchini, pumpkins, watermelons and others require the classic Mitlider garden scheme.

Instead of conventional mineral fertilizers, ash, compost, humus, etc. are often used. It is worth remembering that it is better not to use fertilizers once again than to overdo it and this will only harm the plant.

Far from all regions of Russia, it is possible to carry out frequent and abundant watering with the correct incidence of light, so it is necessary to take into account the soil, climate and the fact that each plant requires a certain watering regimen.

For a garden with a slope, it is necessary to use boxes-beds. For the most accurate planting, it is best to draw up a garden plan.

Soil preparation must be done immediately before planting to eliminate the appearance of a large number of weeds. Weeds are removed with a hoe, plants can be used for subsequent fertilization of the soil.

Mitlider method for tomatoes (video)

Fertilizers and bed boxes

Ridge boxes can be made independently from wood and other materials. These frames do not have a bottom, they must be filled with something and used in cases where ordinary beds cannot be created using the Mitlider method.

You can fill the ridge boxes before planting seedlings with artificial soil - in no case can you use natural soil. You can make a substrate from small sawdust, sand, peat, foam, pumice, pine bark.

Planting according to the Mitlider method involves the use of special mixtures of fertilizers.

Before planting, a lime fertilizer of boron and calcium is used. For clay and peat soils, it is required to use about 200 g of fertilizer, for other types - 100 g.

For top dressing, 50 g of mineral mixtures of potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, etc. are used. Various organic fertilizers can be applied. Planting according to the Mitlider does not prohibit the use of manure humus as an organic fertilizer. If compost is used, then it must be completely rotted, otherwise weed seeds and various microbes will get into the soil, which can become the causative agents of any diseases.

The Mitlider method has a fair number of advantages without being expensive.

Of course, it is not suitable for absolutely any soil, but using this planting method, you can significantly increase the yield on clay and peat soils. Therefore, you can be sure that the Mitlider method is quite feasible and effective on the territory of Russia.

Gallery: Mitlider method (15 photos)

Related posts:

No related entries found.

The Mitlider method is a popular vegetable growing method in our country. Thanks to him, you can get a good harvest without putting a lot of effort.

Agriculture has firmly entered our lives through dachas and vegetable gardens. You always want to grow something of your own, but the harvest is far from always plentiful, and plants often get sick and suffer from various pests. Then the Mitlider scheme comes to the rescue, which solves almost all the problems of gardeners. You can learn how the Mitlider method works and how to apply it by reading the implementation of the method.

Dr. D. Mitlider has been studying diseases and methods of caring for plants, in particular vegetables, for a long time. Conducting various experiments gave its results: Mitlider developed a unique scheme for planting crops in the garden, which allowed gardeners to get a bountiful harvest in any weather, climate, seasonality, etc.

This wonderful method consists of the following:

  1. Before planting, it is necessary to create a sowing scheme that will provide future bushes with maximum illumination.
  2. To retain water, you need to form small walls from the ground. On narrow beds, seedlings are planted in 2 rows. You need to follow the characteristics of the planted plant.
  3. Be sure to properly feed the soil and seedlings. Fertilizers are placed 10 cm from the plant to avoid root burns.
  4. Rainwater is not used for irrigation. Saplings are lightly sprayed so that rot does not appear on the roots.
  5. You should know the timing of planting each plant, take into account the climate and frost.

Advantages and disadvantages of the method

Not all sites are suitable for the Mittlider method. Planting according to this method is unsuitable for peat soils, lowlands, northern slopes. For the Russian climate, it is necessary to use fertilizers frequently to make the soil fertile. Light plays an important role, the beds must be provided with plenty of light. Also, do not forget about the correct and abundant watering.

Wide beds make them easy to water, harvest and control pests. Wide beds allow you to immediately detect any plant diseases, get rid of weeds, so the Mitlider method is really convenient and effective.

In general, it can be noted that the Mittlider method has great advantages. Regardless of the condition of the soil, it allows you to get a good harvest, suitable for use in greenhouses and outdoor gardens. During the growth of crops, water is saved, the penetration of slugs and other pests is prevented, due to the wide arrangement of the beds. The Mitlider garden allows you to improve plant growth, health and productivity.

How to land on a Mitlider

The Mitlider method implies an average bed length of about 9 m, a width of about 50 cm, passages are about 1 m. A sanitary zone must be created along the fence. You should not make passages smaller than the specified one, otherwise the plants will cast a shadow on each other, thereby slowing down their growth. In any case, it is worth considering the size of the site and other conditions, but in general it is quite possible to land on the Mitlider.

It is worth considering that the light should fall on the beds evenly throughout the day. Therefore, it is necessary to create passages so that the shadows of the plants do not fall on each other.

The dimensions of the passages can be narrowed by a few centimeters to provide the plants with the right light.

In this case, the bushes should not dry out. The sun's rays should fall evenly and not burn the plants. You should study what kind of lighting is needed for a particular species, for example, tomatoes are best grown in boxes, planting them in one row. Zucchini, pumpkins, watermelons and others require the classic Mitlider garden scheme.

Instead of conventional mineral fertilizers, ash, compost, humus, etc. are often used. It is worth remembering that it is better not to use fertilizers once again than to overdo it and this will only harm the plant.

Far from all regions of Russia, it is possible to carry out frequent and abundant watering with the correct incidence of light, so it is necessary to take into account the soil, climate and the fact that each plant requires a certain watering regimen.

For a garden with a slope, it is necessary to use boxes-beds. For the most accurate planting, it is best to draw up a garden plan.

Soil preparation must be done immediately before planting to eliminate the appearance of a large number of weeds. Weeds are removed with a hoe, plants can be used for subsequent fertilization of the soil.

Mitlider method for tomatoes (video)

Fertilizers and bed boxes

Ridge boxes can be made independently from wood and other materials. These frames do not have a bottom, they must be filled with something and used in cases where ordinary beds cannot be created using the Mitlider method.

You can fill the ridge boxes before planting seedlings with artificial soil - in no case can you use natural soil. You can make a substrate from small sawdust, sand, peat, foam, pumice, pine bark.

Planting according to the Mitlider method involves the use of special mixtures of fertilizers.

Before planting, a lime fertilizer of boron and calcium is used. For clay and peat soils, it is required to use about 200 g of fertilizer, for other types - 100 g.

For top dressing, 50 g of mineral mixtures of potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, etc. are used. Various organic fertilizers can be applied. Planting according to the Mitlider does not prohibit the use of manure humus as an organic fertilizer. If compost is used, then it must be completely rotted, otherwise weed seeds and various microbes will get into the soil, which can become the causative agents of any diseases.

The Mitlider method has a fair number of advantages without being expensive.

Of course, it is not suitable for absolutely any soil, but using this planting method, you can significantly increase the yield on clay and peat soils. Therefore, you can be sure that the Mitlider method is quite feasible and effective on the territory of Russia.

Gallery: Mitlider method (15 photos)

Related posts:

No related entries found.

Many people have heard about the method of growing crops using the Mittlider method. But few people have tried to apply this technology in practice. And there are even fewer people who have succeeded. What is the reason for the failures?

The essence of the method

The site is divided into ridges, which are used for several years. The paths between them do not dig. The quality of the soil on the ridges does not really matter. It is enough that it passes air well, warms up evenly and retains moisture. The height of the soil mixture layer is usually 10-15 cm.

Fresh manure is not used directly for cultivation, because it rots, forming humus, and the Mitlider method does not provide for this process.

It is possible to prepare straw (about 15 cm thick), 20 cm of manure and peat on the ridges from autumn. All this is covered from above with lime and phosphorite flour in equal parts and earth. So this composition hibernates, rotting. And in the spring, the resulting soil mixture can be used to grow plants.

Growing plants according to the Mitlider method consists in the fact that they receive useful substances and moisture not from the depths of the earth, where they may not be, but from the inter-bed groove. There is prepared fertilizer, water also gets there, which every day must be supplied in some way. The roots with such watering do not go deep, but are located in the upper layer of the earth.

The Mitlider method assumes that the plants in the ridges are located close enough to each other. This leads to their competition and a decrease in the number of weeds.

As a result, it is enough to use a small plot to provide a family with food. But efforts initially need to be applied no less than on a large one.

Fertilizers, including mineral fertilizers, are applied not in large quantities, but in sufficient quantities for garden crops.

Advantages of the method

  • Space saving.
  • There is no need to use large agricultural machinery.
  • Care does not require much time, but should be regular and timely.
  • Complete absence of weeds.
  • You can use Mittlider's greenhouse.
  • An excellent harvest can be obtained in almost any weather conditions (except frost).

History of technology

Jacob Mittlider got acquainted with the basics of agriculture in his youth. His parents grew vegetables for sale. Observing how much fertilizer is applied to the soil every year, how it affects the taste and quality of products, Jacob decided to change the approach to growing crops.

For a decade and a half, Dr. Mittlider developed methods for growing seedlings and shipping them from Southern California to various countries. He then worked at Loma Minda University where he taught and perfected his method. In 1964, the whole world already knew Mittlider. He consulted in many countries, wrote books, patented his achievements in the United States.

Bed layout options

Only a few growing options involve the Mitlider method. The beds are of two types:

  • Narrow ridges.
  • Special boxes.

narrow ridges

Usually their length is 9 or 4.5 meters, and the width is 45 cm. The passage between them is 90 cm. Such ridges make it possible to grow vegetables with minimal labor costs. They are great for removing weeds. Evaluating the results of the crop grown last year, you can adjust the area for certain plants.

Bed in a box

The Mitlider method makes it possible to grow crops in extreme conditions. If growing them on ordinary beds is impossible due to very rocky soil, a very cold climate or a large slope of the site, special boxes are built.

To prepare a bed-box, you need to knock down a box from the boards with a bottom (for growing on a balcony) or without a bottom and fill it with artificial soil over ordinary soil. It turns out two-layer soil. You can use sawdust mixed with sand for this purpose.

Bed boxes are used for growing seedlings. Their size can be 45 × 45 × 7.5 or 22.5 × 45 × 7.5 (for seedlings from small seeds).

Main stages

  • They dig the soil with a pitchfork, carefully removing all perennial weeds.
  • Align the area, making it horizontal.

  • With the help of a marker rail mark the beds. Its length is 135 cm, of which 90 cm goes to the passage. And only 45 cm - directly to the garden.
  • Hammer the pegs in the corners of the site (from the end) and fit them with a cord.
  • Along the edges of the beds, bumpers made of soil or wood are installed. This way they will last longer.

Difficulties and mistakes

  • You need to constantly monitor the horizontal level of the beds.
  • Mixtures must strictly comply with the regulations. Self-activity can ruin the entire crop.
  • You need to water daily, in extreme cases - every other day.
  • Fertilizer should be scattered and stirred evenly throughout the area and throughout the depth of the soil mixture.
  • Do not change the width of the aisles between the beds. You can reduce it to 70 cm only for greens and onions. For taller plants, this is not worth doing, because the amount of light entering the site will change. And accordingly, the yield will decrease.
  • The soil in the ridges must not be loosened so as not to damage the roots of the plants.
  • Irrigation systems are expensive.
  • It takes a lot of effort and time to form beds.
  • In low light, the yield will be 4 times less. The fruits accumulate nitrates, which break down only under the influence of sunlight. They will not store well.

Violation of the horizontal beds

Even a slight slope in the bed will wash away the applied fertilizers and accumulate them on one side of the plot. There, the plants will burn from their excess. The other will be left without fertilizer, and the plants will not receive the necessary nutrition.

Horizontal beds are placed from north to south. If the terrain has a slope, the beds are placed across it.

If the bed is located on a slope, then it must be divided into narrow parts and each of them should be leveled. This should be done not by eye, but with the help of a level and a long rail.

Watering

If you water too little, the fertilizer will not dissolve in the soil and will not reach the plants. And when they gather between the beds in large numbers, they do not bring benefits, but harm. But it's also not worth filling up. It is watered early in the morning from an ordinary watering can with warm water from previously prepared dishes, pouring from 5 to 10 liters of liquid per linear meter, which flows calmly, does not splash. To do this, you can tie the end of the hose with a rag.

The soil must be constantly moist. This is especially important when growing root crops. With regular watering, a crust does not form, air easily penetrates to the roots.

Mixtures for plants according to Mittlider

They can be bought at special kiosks or online stores. They are cheaper there. You can order by mail "Florist Micro".

Fertilizers are evenly placed throughout the site and thoroughly mixed when digging with a shovel. You can use a cultivator for this purpose.

Before planting, Mittlider mixtures are added.

100 grams of mixture No. 1 is applied per meter. It consists of 5 kg of dolomite flour or lime mixed with forty grams of boric acid.

Mix No. 2. 20 g of boric and 5 g of molybdic acid are added to 6 kg of the standard mixture. It contains nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus. Mixtures No. 2 contribute 50 g per rm.

After planting the seedlings, 225 g of ammonium nitrate are added to each bed.

The second time, mixture No. 2 is added after the seedlings fully sprout or three days after planting.

In the future, if necessary, corrective fertilizer is applied.

The Mitlider planting method requires you to check the acidity of the soil in your area.

  • If the pH is high, Mix No. 1 can be taken with gypsum in the base.
  • If it is low (acidic soil), then chalk or limestone flour should serve as the basis (dolomite can be used).

With the wrong choice, useful substances will be blocked and will be inaccessible to plants.

If you decide to prepare the mixture yourself, then you need to make it strictly according to the recipe that the Mitlider method offers. Vegetables are sensitive to the presence of the necessary elements. If there is more than one or more substances, then the plants will burn, if not enough, they will get sick.

Sometimes gardeners use other mixtures, such as Ugarova. At first, the introduction of boron and molybdenum improves the yield of plants, but after a few years the absence of iron, zinc and manganese affects. This will not happen if Mittlider mixtures are used immediately. They contain these elements.

The method of Dr. Mitlider is a complex of procedures and techniques that show results only with complex application. If at least one of the points is not met, the result is reduced to zero.

planting plants

On the dug-up part of the bed (30-35 cm), two rows of plants are planted. The row spacing is 25 cm.

The Mitlider method for each species sets the distance between plants. For cabbage, this is 33 cm. Varieties of different ripening periods can be grown on the same bed.

Potatoes, like other plants, are planted in a checkerboard pattern. Holes 10 cm deep are fertilized with humus, potatoes are placed in them and covered with earth. Feed three times using the Mitlider method.

Cucumbers are planted in two rows near the sides of the beds at a distance of 30-50 cm.

A good result is obtained by growing them in greenhouses. There, cucumbers can be planted with seedlings. They are tied to the wire with a rope. The stems are directed clockwise. The mustache is removed. Only the first leaf and cucumber are left on the shoot. This regulates and optimizes plant density.

Leaves are also cut, especially those touching the ground. Remove the sick and damaged.

Helps to get a good harvest of tomatoes by the Mitlider method. Tomatoes in wet weather are often affected by late blight. Here, the plants are not thickened, so they are well ventilated and ripen together.

Each gardener must weigh the pros and cons well when deciding to grow vegetables using the Mittlider method.

How to arrange a garden? It would seem that there is nothing tricky in this matter, and cannot be. However, this may seem so only at first glance. A good result in vegetable growing is possible when taking into account many factors that affect the development of plants. This is the location of the ridges, their orientation, and the mechanical composition of the soil, moisture, and the level of acidity, and many more nuances. To date, not one, but several points of view on agriculture have developed. Each model has its supporters and opponents, it is interesting and effective in its own way. Today I propose to get acquainted with a rather popular method of growing vegetables the author, which is the famous American scientist Jacob mitlider . In Russia, this method was analyzed and put into practice by Doctor of Biological Sciences Tatyana Yurievna Ugarova.

A few words about the authors

Dr. Mitlider worked for quite a long time - for 20 years - in a commercial flower and vegetable nursery in Southern California. Being an observant and inquisitive person, he made a number of important conclusions for himself regarding working with plants. With a wealth of experience and valuable knowledge behind him, Dr. Mitlider began to spread his method. He has written and published several books. Traveled many countries, repeatedly visited Russia. In a sense, the Mitlider method created a real sensation among adherents of traditional farming. Many types of work, such as repeated loosening of the soil, hilling were recognized by them as unnecessary. Mitlider himself positioned his method as family vegetable growing or vegetable growing in a small area. Although practice shows that this method also works in the industrial version.

Tatyana Ugarova is called the "Russian Mitlider" She not only accompanied her teacher during trips to Russia, not only translated almost all of his works into Russian, but also made her own recommendations regarding the use of the mitlider method especially for Russians.

The essence of the method

Soil fertility, according to Mitlider , is not of decisive importance for the vegetable grower. The soil must be:

  • Air and moisture permeable,
  • Capable of retaining moisture
  • Clean from weeds
  • The same temperature throughout the nutrient layer,
  • with a neutral response.

Here are some examples soil mix recipes according to Mitlider :

  • Sawdust - 60%, sand - 40%,
  • Coniferous needles - 40%, perlite - 30%, sand - 30%,
  • Sphagnum moss - 40%, sand - 30%, packaging foam - 30%.

The general requirements for the soil mixture are as follows: it should not cake and slowly overripe. That is why Mitlider does not recommend the use of manure. All components of the soil mixture are taken on the basis of volume, and not by weight.

The health and productivity of plants according to Mitlider are directly dependent on the presence in the soil mixture of all the necessary macro- and microelements, and in a balanced form. For this, the author has developed detailed recommendations with a clear indication of the amount of a particular element.

From the moment the seedlings appear, the plants are watered strictly according to the scheme with a fertilizer mixture, which is specially prepared.

Mitlider plays the most important role lighting. It is for the purpose of optimal lighting that it is proposed to grow vegetables on narrow ridges, between which wide passages are arranged.
– The width of the Mitlider ridges is 45 cm.
- The width of the aisles should be at least 90, and preferably 105 cm.
- Ridges should be located strictly from north to south and not otherwise. This ensures proper lighting of plants. As you know, plants are able to fully assimilate minerals only under the condition of good lighting.

For each culture, Mitlider developed a specific landing plan. All cultivated plants are located in two rows along the edge of the ridge, with the exception of such overall crops as pumpkin, zucchini, which are planted in one row. Weeds are not uprooted, but regularly mowed.

Watering with a fertilizer mixture is carried out strictly in the center of the ridge. This is necessary in order to prevent the burn of the root system of cultivated plants. In addition, the high concentration of chemicals in the center of the bed prevents weeds from growing.

To how to arrange vegetable garden according to Mitlider

Device work vegetable garden according to Mitlider should start in the fall. First you need to mark the garden into ridges and aisles. In the future, the ridges will never change places with passages. The length of the ridges can be arbitrary, but for the convenience of calculating the fertilizer mixture, a length of 9 m is taken. The width is not more than 45 cm. Passages - 90 -100 cm. Nothing needs to be added to the soil in advance. It is necessary to dig and level the site, scrupulously, removing perennial weeds. The technique provides for the arrangement of ridges at the same level with the soil. With the help of a flat cutter or chopper, you need to form small earthen sides along the edges of the ridges. When weeds appear, it is enough to simply destroy the sides and build them again after a little time. It's not difficult at all. But such an operation will make life very difficult for weeds. For even greater convenience, you can make the sides of boards or other improvised material. You will need to build long frames or boxes without a bottom. Based on my own experience, I note that a ridge fenced in this way psychologically mobilizes the gardener. After all, we can immediately see a clear amount of work. Ridges - boxes are filled with soil mixture. If you don't want to fence the ridges, don't do it. In the spring, before planting, fertilizer is evenly distributed along the entire length of the ridge. mix #1.

Which includes any calcium-containing element - lime, dolomite flour, and if the soil is slightly acidic or neutral - gypsum. Boron must be added to lime. For 5 kg of lime, take 40 gr. boric acid or 60 gr. Boers. The lime material is added at the rate of 500 gr. per meter2

Blend #1 paid once per season. Our goal in this operation is to deacidify the soil, and to ensure that the soil remains neutral for as long as possible. In the future, you will need to make minerals according to a certain scheme. We must be sure that all the nutrients are taken up by the plants and no unwanted chemical reactions occur.

Now we are preparing and applying fertilizer mix #2. Mitlider developed the composition of the mixture in the most detailed way. His books suggest interchangeable ingredients in case the grower can't buy any of the fertilizers mentioned. Within the framework of this article, we indicate one of the most available options. mix #2. We take all data based on square meters!

  • 600 gr. nitroammophoski or 290 gr. ammonium nitrate + 120 gr. double superphosphate + 200 gr. potassium sulfate,
  • 90 gr. magnesium sulfate,
  • 6 gr. borax or 4 gr. boric acid,
  • 2 gr. ammonium molybdate.

For everybody gardener using method Mitlider it is important to learn how to calculate the right amount of fertilizer based on the landing area.

the above mix #2 must be evenly distributed over the surface of the ridges. After that, carefully dig the soil with a pitchfork, and pour water over it. The soil is now ready for planting.

Mitlider is very much in favor of growing plants through seedlings. In his opinion, transplantation has a stimulating effect on the plant. Therefore, everything that is possible is best grown through seedlings. For a vegetable grower, the seedling method is also beneficial. There is always an opportunity to evaluate the starting capabilities of plants.

Seedlings of peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers are planted along one side of the garden bed 17.5 cm apart. Cabbage, celery and salads should be planted in a checkerboard pattern with a step of 35 cm. Pumpkins and zucchini are planted every 70 cm. Small seeds are mixed with sawdust or sand before planting. Large seeds are sown after 2.5 cm. After sowing the seeds, the soil must be kept moist. The slightest drying is unacceptable. But watering should only be done through burlap or lutrasil. You can water with water of any temperature and at any time of the day. But strictly in the center of the ridge.

After waiting for seedlings, the plants are watered with enriched fertilizer mix #2.

It can be prepared as follows:
Dilute in 200 liters of water
-4 kg. calcium nitrate,
- 1.8 kg, ammonium nitrate,
- 0.68 kg. ammophos,
- 2.1 kg. potassium sulfate,
- 2.7 kg of magnesium sulfate.

Be sure to add trace elements:
-240 gr. iron sulfate,
-4 gr. copper sulfate,
-8 gr. zinc sulfate,
-12 gr. manganese sulfate,
-12 gr. boric acid,
-5 gr. molybdic acid.

It is necessary to feed the plants in accordance with a certain scheme.
For each plant it has its own:
- Radishes need 2 top dressings per season,
- potatoes - 4,
- cucumbers, tomatoes - 6-8.

It is very important to understand that it is strictly forbidden to loosen the ridges with plantings. Even if there is a crust on the soil. Do not forget that the soil should always be slightly moist. Plants grown in mitlider method, they always receive nutrients on time, and in the right amount, which is probably why their root system is not buried, so loosening can damage the roots.

Pros and Cons of the Mitlider Method

There are a lot of pluses. First of all, you will get impressive yields. And this is not an exaggeration. If you strictly follow the recommendations of the author and, of course, understand the whole meaning of the method presented, then as a result, the yield from a small area will increase significantly!

Your garden will have a beautiful and well-groomed appearance. After 2-3 years, you will not see a trace of weeds in your garden. Favorable conditions are simply not created for them. Seeing such a garden only once, I want to create a similar beauty in my own.

Easy to calculate expenses and income. You can always say with certainty how much fertilizer will be needed, and how much it will cost. You can also safely predict the result. How many vegetables will be grown per season. In business, it helps planning.

What to say about the cons ...
The method is good and reasonable, but, unfortunately, in Russia, not all seed producers are conscientious about their work. Therefore, often vegetable growers are disappointed in the purchased seeds and seedlings. Therefore, the result of your efforts will depend not only on you.

Huge meaning using Mitlider method given to irrigation. If problems with water are not solved, then it is better to use other agricultural technology.

Mitlider Method allows you to grow vegetables where there is actually no suitable land. However, there is an opinion that in some regions of Russia there are not enough sunny days, and plants are not always able to assimilate such intensive nutrition. Unused mineral fertilizers fall into the lower layers of the soil, and then into our water bodies.

Finally

The Mitlider method is really interesting and promising. Do not confuse this method with hydroponics, as Mitlider soil mixtures are on top of the earth layer. In the future, it is not required to change the soil mixtures, it is enough just to add them as needed. You can also use the soil method of growing vegetables using the same fertilizer mixtures. For a more detailed acquaintance with the method, I advise you to study the books of Dr. Mitlider himself, and the books of T. Ugarova, addressed to the Russian reader. They are easy to read and interesting.

Well vegetable growing according to Mittlider(Course of lectures) read here