It’s Time To Get Growing!
If you love having homegrown fruit and veggies, now is the time to put forth the work that will reap you a season filled with plentiful produce. April is ideal to begin your garden as this is when the last frost occurs in most parts of the country. According to Fruits & Veggies–More Matters, the last frost is important because if the soil is too cold, germination (early growth of the seeds) is slowed, which makes the seeds vulnerable fungus and other disease. In order to have the best possible garden, follow three simple steps:
- Planning – Consider the amount of space you have for planting and the types of fruit/veggies you want to plant. Some fruit and veggies need more space (peas, beans, squash), than others.
- Preparation – Loosen the soil with a garden rake and add some kind of organic matter such as a composted manure.
- Planting – Different plants have different needs, but generally speaking you want to plant seeds that are at a depth twice their diameter. For more detail on seedlings, tomatoes, beans, and peas, visit the Fruits & Veggies–More Matters Planting Guide
After you’ve got your garden started, there are regular maintenance activities you’ll need to do to keep your plants healthy. This includes watering, fertilizing, and harvesting specific fruit and vegetables at specific times. Fruits & Veggies–More Matters has a monthly reminder that will provide you with specific information on what you should be doing depending on your region. And, if you have children, make sure you get them involved! Here are some terrific ideas how your kids can help you in your garden, which might also help them eat those fruit and veggies you’ll be growing.
I’ll return next week with some helpful information about the abundance of nutrition found in fruit and veggies.
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