Time for another Tip from the Yard. The weather is getting exciting! By now your seedlings should be looking good. Your cool weather crops should be outside getting harden-offed and its ok to plant them. By mid-month start getting the warm weather crops outside and gently start the hardening off process.
Be sure to have your plan for the layout of the garden in order. This year’s crops should not be planted in the same space as the same crop last year. Be sure to leave room in the plan for relay planting of veggies. Bush beans is one of the most common veggies to plant every 2 weeks to lengthen the production season.
Image 1: Veggie Plants in Pots, https://www.epicgardening.com/vegetables-seed-indoors/
There are different techniques for sowing veggie seeds in the garden. The most common technique is planting in straight rows. Its traditional, easy to access, and cultivate. Newer and space-saving techniques include wide rows and/or square foot gardening. These allow for more of a scattering of seed, remember this is harder to weed. The crops most often planted this way are root crops and greens. Vine crops work well in hills, planting seeds in a grouping of 5-9 seeds in a foot circle. Even better bury a 6” pot and plant the seeds about the pot. When watering put the water in the pot, never getting the plants wet. More later on watering. It is important to ensure the seed is in contact with the soil. Gently tamping the soil after sowing is a good final step. Be sure to review the packaging for special instructions.
Once the seeds are planted the most important project for the summer is watering. Start with a GENTLE sprinkle over the newly sown seeds. This should be the last time veggies are sprinkled. Water when the ground 2” deep is dry to the touch. Too much water and the plants roots will drown, too little water and the plants dry out. Water at the base of the plants and GENTLY. There is a message here. Watering the leaves of a plant and watering with a high-powered spray does not help the plants. This process can encourage fungus, bacteria, and insect issues as the plants develop. A wand directing water to the base of the plants is one of the best practices for a successful vegetable garden. When we cover tomatoes, I will discuss trench watering.
The last best thing for a vegetable garden is mulch. Unless you are a huge fan of continual weeding, after the seeds are coming up and the transplants are planted, a layer of clean mulch is the best. There are many different types of mulches. Straw is common, try to use clean straw or there will be more weeds growing than if no mulch was used. Hardwood mulch, cedar, or cypress are all acceptable. Membranes work well but must be held in place. Layers of newspapers also work, but must be held in place. The key to mulching is keeping the mulch CLOSE to the plants but do not bury the plants. Sometime we will discuss mulch volcanoes in detail.
Since you performed the needed soil tests, rotate crops, and follow special package instructions, fertilizing should be minimal during the growing season. Check with extension or a local nursery for specific recommendations. The same is true of insect, and plant diseases. The one thing to remember with fertilizers insecticides, and fungicides, more isn’t better. Always follow the labeled instructions and wear PPE.
Next time we’ll cover the most popular fruit in America for the home gardener; tomatoes in the yard.
RESOURCES:
- Planting a Vegetable Garden, University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Watering New Plantings, University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Maximizing Your Vegetable Garden, Penn State University Extension
- Root Crops – Growing Tips, University of Massachusetts Amherst
-M. Massey, Lorain County MGV