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7 Secrets to a Successful Garden Cherie H.Gundersen

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7 Secrets to a Successful Garden Cherie H.Gundersen 7 Secrets to a Successful Garden Cherie H.Gundersen 1. Planning: Select areas suited to the type of plants, sunlight, drainage, available water and soil nutrients, as these are all important factors to be considered. Keep high-maintenance areas small. Small well cultivated areas are better than large unmanageable ones. Plan based on your needs and desires. Know the space requirements of the particular plants and seeds you choose. Draw out your plan and adjust it as necessary during the planting. 2. Soil preparation: Add organic matter to the soil to improve soil structure and nutrient content for healthy growth and disease resistance. Types of materials that will help to improve your soil are: 1. Compost – old leaves, grass, etc. (contact local landfill for a list of available compost--generally very reasonable) 2. Manure – aged is usually best; steer, turkey, etc: no dog. 3. Leaf mold 4. Wood chips – finely chopped 5. Aged sawdust 6. Peat moss (Avoid shredded newspapers for food gardens.) For container gardens a prepared mixture of vermiculite, peat moss and fertilizer is best. This mixture, sold by seed dealers and garden supply centers comes ready for use; it has several advantages over soil. It is free of plant disease organisms and weed seeds, it holds moisture and plant nutrients well, and it is very lightweight and portable. 3. Selection of plants and seeds: Check on which varieties are best for your area. (For a list call your local Cooperative Extension Service office.) Estimated days to harvest, planting time and germination period and space requirements are some factors to consider. 4. Fertilization: Most vegetables are high users of nitrogen, phosphate and potash. A balanced blend like 16- 16-8 is an excellent starting fertilizer, it should be applied at the rate of 15-20 lbs. per 1000 square feet. Young plants and germinating seeds can be injured if fertilizer is too close, side dress plants with fertilizer 3 or 4 inches to the side. Osmocote is a perfect time release fertilizer for container gardening. Miracle-Gro fertilizer which feeds as you water, is also good. Manure is an excellent soil amendment and fertilizer but it can be loaded with weed seed, so be sure to choose one that is clean and well-rotted (aged). Horse manure has more weed seed than steer. Fresh manure is too hot and will burn your plants and kill them. Apply one to two bushels of manure to each 100 square feet of garden. 5. Watering: Vegetables require adequate water. Keep soil moist until seeds germinate and water as needed thereafter. Water use ranges from 1inch per week in cooler spring and fall – up to 2 inch in mid-summer. 6. WEED CONTROL: The old saying, ―One year‘s weeds—seven years seed‖ has much truth to it. Cultivate - Keep weeds from maturing by using a hoe to uproot the weed early in the day and the sun will kill the young weeds. This regular practice will keep the garden weed free and save you tons of work. Mulch – Organic mulches, such as straw, wood shavings, pine needles, bark or grass- clippings keep weeds down and turn into next year‘s humus. Mulch also helps keep moisture in the soil thus conserving water. 7. PEST CONTROL: Key to successful problem control is early detection and action. Companion planting works well in pest control. For example, using strong-smelling vegetables (onions and garlic) or herbs (rosemary and basil) confuses pests and prevents them from attacking plants. You can also attract beneficial insects to your vegetable garden by planting flowers and herbs such as candytuft and cilantro. Praying mantis and ladybugs are examples of insects that keep destructive insects under control. Simply plant a row of strong-smelling plants next to vulnerable vegetables, the pest cannot smell its target. Garlic plants can deter slugs. Alliums (onions, leeks and garlic) prevent fungal infections. Sow a row of onions near strawberries, this can prevent strawberries from developing mold. Basil and marigolds act as a natural insect repellent when planted amongst tomatoes. The traditional ‗three sisters‘ approach involves planting a bed with sweet corn, beans and squash. Each plant provides natural shelter and protection for the other. They also act as natural mulch to suppress weeds and prevent moisture loss. The tall corn stalks provide support for the beans to climb. The beans fix nitrogen into the soil for its sister plants. (see below for a comprehensive list of companion plants) .
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