Help your
vegetable garden thrive
March 29, 2007
BY ROY COOK -
VICTORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER
EDITED BY
CHARLA BORCHERS
March is here,
the weather has warmed up and it is time to get serious about getting into the
vegetable garden. I know that each one of us who did not have a fall vegetable
garden has already cleaned up all the debris from last spring and summer,
amended the soil and has made it ready for planting. If you are not ready, then
let's get busy.
Cabbage,
cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, beets, potatoes, onion, turnips, spinach and
other cool season crops should already have been planted. Other vegetables that
can still be planted include beans, cucumbers, cantaloupe, eggplants, mustard,
okra, peppers, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, squash, sweet corn, tomatoes and
watermelons.
When planning your garden, it is important to ask a few basic questions. Who will be doing the work? Will you be having help or will you be handling the hoe by yourself? One thing to remember, a small weed-free garden will produce more than a large messy, overgrown weedy one. The larger traditional, raised bed and square foot gardens each requires its own care practices.
PHOTOS
BY TOM LEROY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT
Traditional
garden, top; raised-bed garden, above left; and the square-foot style garden,
above right, all work well for vegetable gardening depending on the gardener's
space, interests and production techniques.
What do you and
your family like to eat? There is no value in taking up valuable garden space
with vegetables that no one eats. How do you plan to use the produce from your
garden? Do you plan to can, freeze, dry or store part of the produce or
possibly give some away? Answering these questions will help you not only in
planning the size of the garden but also in selecting the varieties to be
grown. Some varieties produce better quality and more tasty veggies than others
do. Choose varieties carefully, making sure they are adapted to the
SUNNY SPOTS
When planting
your garden, place tall and trellised crops on the north side so they won't
shade shorter vegetables. Group plants by length of growing period. Plant early
spring crops together, so that later crops can be planted in these areas.
Consider the length of harvest as well as time to maturity.
The ideal
garden site is close to the house, but out in the open where it receives at
least eight hours of sunlight each day and is not shaded by trees or buildings.
Choose a place that is near a water supply and has loose fertile soil. Try not
to plant related vegetable crops in exactly the same location more often than
once in three years. Rotation prevents the buildup of insects and disease. Use
your old garden plans as guides for rotating crops.
Soil
analysis
The ideal
vegetable garden soil is deep, friable, well drained and rich in organic
matter. Proper soil preparation provides the basis for good seed germination
and subsequent growth of garden crops. Careful use of various amendments can
improve garden soil.
Not enough can
be said about soil testing. Check soil fertility and pH by having your soil
analyzed at least once every three years. Soil pH measures the degree of
acidity or alkalinity of the soil. Vegetables vary to some extent in their
requirements, but most garden crops will do well with a soil pH of 5.5 to 7.0.
A soil pH of 7.0 is considered neutral. Higher than 7.0 tends to be alkaline
and lower than 7.0 is acidic. Soil sample "kits" are available at the
Timing
really counts
You want most
crops to mature before the very hot weather sets in. There are a few exceptions
(okra, Southern peas, sweet potatoes and more) Most crops need to be planted as
early as possible, but be prepared to protect them from a late March frost. It
has happened before.
Most all seeds
need a soil temperature of 60-70 degrees for proper germination. The
What veggies
need
Adequate soil
moisture is essential for good crop growth. A healthy plant is composed of 75
to 90 percent water. Water is used for plants' vital functions including
photosynthesis, support and transportation of nutrients and sugars to various
parts of the plant.
During growth,
vegetable crops need about an inch of water per week from rain, irrigation or
both.
The amount of
fertilizer to apply to a garden depends on the natural fertility of the soil,
the amount of organic matter present, the type of fertilizer used and the crops
being grown. The best way to determine fertilizer needs is to have the soil
tested.
Mulching can be
an alternative to weeding. Thick layers of organic mulch will prevent most
annuals from appearing and any that do are easy to pull. Mulch is defined as
any material spread on the garden soil to protect root plants from heat, cold
or drought and prevent weed seeds from sprouting. Adding compost to the soil is
very beneficial - so use it.
While
herbicides can be used on vegetables, the home garden is not the recommended
place to use them as using mulch, chopping or pulling weeds is usually the
best. The reason why? Normally we plant many different vegetables in the garden
that would require many different herbicides - and you can't use the same
herbicide on all vegetables. The use of weed killers normally recommended for
lawns or other areas is also not advised nor approved. Use only pesticides
approved for use on vegetable crops and be sure to read and follow label
directions carefully.
Following these
tips will get you off to a good start and a healthy supply of fresh veggies.