Plant Talk |
CAUTION:The information and recommendations in this article are applicable to Harnett County, NC and may not apply in other areas.
VEGETABLE GARDENING, 03/17/97
Vine ripe tomatoes. Fresh sweet corn just a few steps from your backdoor. Tender yellow squash picked only minutes before cooking. Do these images have your mouth watering? Whether you are a veteran gardener or have just purchased your first seed packet, here are some tips to help you grow tasty vegetables.
The first step is to select a good site. The site should receive at least six, and preferably eight to ten hours of sunlight each day.
A convenient location is important for ease of maintenance and harvest. A garden which is far from the house will receive less care. A few steps from the kitchen door is ideal.
Almost any soil can produce good vegetables if properly prepared. Most will benefit from the addition of composted organic matter (leaves and grass clippings, for example), or aged manure. Remember, yard waste and manure should be fully decomposed before they are tilled into the soil. As always, a pre-plant soil test is advised, then every three years after that. If you need to plant before your soil test results have come back, apply a complete fertilizer (e.g. 8-8-8, 10-10-10, etc) at 20-30 pounds per thousand square feet. This should be mixed into the top 3-4 inches of soil. Organic fertilizers which supply the same nutrients can be substituted.
Your garden will need at least 1 inch of water each week, from rainfall or irrigation. Site your garden within reach of your garden hose.
Be sure to choose a size that suits your needs. A person with a passion for gardening might try an acre, but even a four foot square raised bed can produce a surprising amount of vegetables. If you are a new gardener, a small start is wise.
Once a site has been chosen, it is time to plan. There are few limits to the types of vegetables that can be grown. But try to resist the urge to purchase one of everything while looking at pictures of ripe fruits and vegetable on seed packets. Keep your limitations in mind.
Check the date on the seed packet. Last year's (or older) seed can often be purchased at a discount, but remember that germination will be much lower.
When planting, pay attention to the spacing and planting depth requirements on the seed packet. Planting too close will not give good results. And if planted to deeply, germination will be poor. In general, plant seeds no deeper than three to four times their greatest diameter. It seems a shame to pull up perfectly healthy plants, but thinning is important for many vegetables to give them adequate space to grow.
Most vegetables will benefit from a second fertilizer application about halfway to harvest (check the seed packet for days to maturity). Follow the soil test recommendations, or apply 3-4 cups of 8-8-8 (or similar) per 100 feet of row.
Weeds are easiest to control when they are small (whether using hands, hoe, or herbicides). A layer of mulch on top of the soil will also help, and will conserve moisture too. And remember that a plant that has the nutrients and moisture it needs will be more resistant to insect and disease problems.
Why not plan for a continual harvest? For example, tomatoes can be planted around mid-April, then again in June or July for a late harvest. Or plant a row of lettuce every 7-10 days for a longer harvest period. Back to Plant Talk Index
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