Winter is here but Spring won’t be far behind. Now’s the time to start planning your garden. Gardening has surged in popularity thanks to ever increasing produce costs and the decision by more and more Americans to eat healthier. Produce you grow yourself is tastier, healthier and more economical. If you are worried about pesticides and the recent e-coli and salmonella outbreaks, growing your own food is the best way to avoid them. There’s nothing better than tomatoes or watermelons fresh off the vine. If space is a concern, don’t worry. Many varieties of vegetables, some fruits, and most herbs can be grown in hanging planters or containers-even window boxes. Look for "bush" varieties which are compact and ideal for smaller spaces.
All you really need to start a garden is some seeds or plants, a plot or containers, rich soil, water and sunshine! You can amend your soil if need be to make sure it’s the best it can be for growing the plants you’ve chosen. It takes effort but the rewards more than make up for it. Read on to learn more about getting your garden started.LocationThe first thing to do is to decide where you’d like to plant your garden. Choose an area of your yard that gets plenty of sun (8 hours or more a day is idea) and has good drainage. If you want to grow most herbs and vegetables, you’ll need as much sun as possible. You’ll also want to chose an area that will be easy to water. If your plot winds up in an area your garden hose can’t reach, that will mean more work for you to keep your plants happy, and vegetable plants are very thirsty!ZonesNext, check what zone you are in. The Dept. of Agriculture has divided the country into 26 plant hardiness zones.
These zones are determined by the average dates of each area’s first and last frost. Make sure you know yours as not all plants will do well in all zones, and if you are starting from seed, the zone determines when you need to get started and when you can plant the seedlings in the ground. Choosing What to PlantOf course you should always choose the vegetables and herbs you use and enjoy the most, but when deciding Plastic kids watering can on what varieties, keep in mind the size they will grow too. Things like beans, tomatoes and melons will need a lot of room if you want to grow the traditional kind, but look for the "bush" varieties if you want more compact plants. Cherry tomatoes are a great choice if your space is really limited as they can be grow from a hanging planter. The more compact varieties of many kinds of veggies and herbs, and fruits like strawberries can easily be grown in containers as well. Soil PrepYour soil is very important. It should be well aerated and enriched with compost or manure. You can have it tested or by the kit and do it yourself as well, this will help you determine if you need to adjust things like the PH or add nutrients like nitrogen.MaintenanceThis is crucial. You’ll need to water, weed and fertilize regularly. How often depends on the exact crops you’re growing, but it’s important to water evenly and regularly. Uneven watering can result in misshapen or cracked fruits and overall failure to thrive. When you water is important too. Don’t water near or after sunset. Leaving plants wet all night can contribute to fungal diseases. You should also use care not to water during the hottest part of the day (10am-3pm) as the sun shining on wet leaves can cause burns. Water in the morning or late afternoon.
All you really need to start a garden is some seeds or plants, a plot or containers, rich soil, water and sunshine! You can amend your soil if need be to make sure it’s the best it can be for growing the plants you’ve chosen. It takes effort but the rewards more than make up for it. Read on to learn more about getting your garden started.LocationThe first thing to do is to decide where you’d like to plant your garden. Choose an area of your yard that gets plenty of sun (8 hours or more a day is idea) and has good drainage. If you want to grow most herbs and vegetables, you’ll need as much sun as possible. You’ll also want to chose an area that will be easy to water. If your plot winds up in an area your garden hose can’t reach, that will mean more work for you to keep your plants happy, and vegetable plants are very thirsty!ZonesNext, check what zone you are in. The Dept. of Agriculture has divided the country into 26 plant hardiness zones.
These zones are determined by the average dates of each area’s first and last frost. Make sure you know yours as not all plants will do well in all zones, and if you are starting from seed, the zone determines when you need to get started and when you can plant the seedlings in the ground. Choosing What to PlantOf course you should always choose the vegetables and herbs you use and enjoy the most, but when deciding Plastic kids watering can on what varieties, keep in mind the size they will grow too. Things like beans, tomatoes and melons will need a lot of room if you want to grow the traditional kind, but look for the "bush" varieties if you want more compact plants. Cherry tomatoes are a great choice if your space is really limited as they can be grow from a hanging planter. The more compact varieties of many kinds of veggies and herbs, and fruits like strawberries can easily be grown in containers as well. Soil PrepYour soil is very important. It should be well aerated and enriched with compost or manure. You can have it tested or by the kit and do it yourself as well, this will help you determine if you need to adjust things like the PH or add nutrients like nitrogen.MaintenanceThis is crucial. You’ll need to water, weed and fertilize regularly. How often depends on the exact crops you’re growing, but it’s important to water evenly and regularly. Uneven watering can result in misshapen or cracked fruits and overall failure to thrive. When you water is important too. Don’t water near or after sunset. Leaving plants wet all night can contribute to fungal diseases. You should also use care not to water during the hottest part of the day (10am-3pm) as the sun shining on wet leaves can cause burns. Water in the morning or late afternoon.
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