Spring has sprung and summer is almost here. It is now the time to begin planting outside gardens. Many have already started; however, it is not too late for everyone.
As people continue to stay home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they continue to work on home improvement and gardening projects. From porches to petunias, swimming pools to dusty miller plants improving, caring for the outside of your home is just as important as improving the inside. If you are a beginner, there are a few things you can do to get started with your outdoor vegetable garden.
Minnesota’s fickle weather does not have to leave you confused or jaded when it comes to your outdoor gardening.
When starting your garden there are some basics techniques that can be implemented to help get the best quality garden. Starting with a clean and disinfected space will help you keep diseases out of gardens and potted plants. Dirty garden tools and work areas can spread disease and hamper proper growth and plant health. One way to disinfect your tools is to use rubbing alcohol with seventy percent concentration. Don’t forget to rinse with clean water.
Companion planting is another way to get a beautiful garden while using the space efficiently. Planting flowers and vegetables together is one example of this concept. Another example is planting short-season crops in the same beds and spaces as longer-maturing plants. Gardeners can grow leafy greens and herbs, and then once they are mature, you can transplant your nightshade veggies, like peppers and tomatoes into the same area, helping to conserve space. Gardeners can also choose plants that use various parts of the soil such as the upper soil for better aeration or the deeper soil to pull more nutrients.
The University of Minnesota Gardening Extension program’s website emphasizes the importance of using proper soil. Gardening soil should not be too wet or too dry, free of mold and odors. Healthy planting soil will crumble when it’s squeezed in your hand. If it is too wet, when squeezed, it will stick together, molding into a ball. Raking the soil and removing any excesses debris like large sticks, paper, plastic, and any other item considered unacceptable for a garden, is a next step before planting seeds.
Before planting, also make sure to understand if you are planting cool season or hot season crops. Some seeds need to be planted early in the planting season like march or April. Others get planted toward the end of the summer. Do some research on planting strategies for your city and neighborhood and whether you garden faces east or west, gets lots of sun or shade. Timing is critical for a successful garden.
Brandi D. Phillips is a mother of 2, wife, freelance writer, healer and lover of life and adventure. You can reach her at [email protected] with questions or comments about this article.
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