Gardening Basics
Since it is nearly time to begin planting – well, it is here in northern
After the danger of frost, which is usually about May first in this area, it is safe to begin planting your vegetable garden. If you are fortunate enough to live on a large parcel of land, you can plant enough vegetables to feed a family of four for the year! If you live in town, and have only a small patch of land, there are techniques that you can use to maximize your garden space.
STEP 1 – PLAN FIRST
The key to a good garden is to PLAN FIRST! Know the kinds of vegetables that you and your family will eat. Know the cool weather crops from the warm weather crops. Know where the sunny spot in your yard is, as most vegetables need plenty of sunlight.
Our yard happens to be partly shady, however, in the early spring (such as now) the trees that surround us are still quite bare and allow lots of sun to come through. It is a good time to begin planting. This sun will allow the young seeds and plants to get a good start. Be prepared, however, to cover your plantings should Mother Nature fool us and the weather turn cold unexpectedly.
Allow plenty of space between plants. Remember they will grow to fill in much of the space around them. If you plant from seed, be prepared to thin out your crop accordingly. It is a mistake I have made more than once in my zeal to grow more than my garden space allows. If you do not allow enough space, you will end up with small plants that bear little or no fruit. Check the backs of the seed packets for information on how much space each plant requires, how deep to plant your seeds, and how much sun and water is required for your plants to grow. It will also tell you when it is the ideal time to plant that particular vegetable in your area.
STEP 2 – PREPARE YOUR GARDEN
To begin planning your garden, mark off the area in which your plants will get plenty of sunlight. Measure and mark your lines, then turn the soil. I suggest adding peat moss and blending it well throughout the dirt. Adding a border will help prevent weeds from spreading into your garden and also can be an attractive addition. Though you can use almost anything to create your border, I suggest something smooth such as brick, or treated lumber, or concrete cinder blocks. This will allow you to mow along the outside of your garden and save you the time of having to weed whack later in the season to keep it neat.
If you have pets, I highly recommend fencing your garden. A wire fence is best in my opinion, because it throws less shade. If you have a small space, as I do, you will want to maximize the growing area.
STEP 3 – PLANT
After you have selected which plants to buy, and which to start from seed, you may begin to plant. I like to start with a row of stringless pole beans along the back of my garden. If you remember to get the stringless kind, it will be much less work for you at harvest time! Bush beans are fine, as well, but I prefer pole beans. For our situation, they get more sunlight as they grow vertically up the trellis, and since we are somewhat deficient in sunlight, we need to find it where we can!
When choosing a location for your plants within the garden, I suggest planting the taller ones in back and graduating downward in size as you work your way to the front of the garden. Leave enough space in between rows so that you can easily walk through your garden without stepping on your plants. Remember, they will grow much bigger than they are now!
When beginning with seedlings, I highly recommend using a watered down solution containing a good plant starting fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro for vegetables. Follow the directions on the package for the proper water-to-fertilizer ratio. Dip the root ball of the seedling into the solution before you plant. It will give the plant a good healthy start. For plants such as tomatoes or peppers that may require a cage or stakes, I suggest you install them shortly after planting. This will prevent possibly injury to the roots that can happen quite easily after the plants have had a chance to grow.
Once your garden is planted, be sure to water regularly and feed them per the instructions on the fertilizer package. You may also want to line the spaces in between rows with newspaper and/or mulch to help prevent weeds.
One thing that I like to do is to surround my garden with marigolds. The Marigold is a natural repellent to many creatures – insects and otherwise. The flowers are also edible, and can make a pretty garnish. I also like the bright splash of color that it brings to the yard. Many herbs act in the same manner, even going so far as to repel deer!
Lastly, remember to have some fun! Gardening should be joyous! A good way to stay connected with the earth!
Good luck with your garden! Please share your experiences with us – successes as well as failures! Your tips and ideas are most welcome!
Happy Gardening!
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