|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May = MaNy things to do in your
garden
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: Staff Writer
May is the time of year that gardeners must put away all the seed
catalogues, turn off the Internet sites (except this one, naturally) and
get outside and get dirty.
Here's a quick list to get your garden started:
Soil Preparation:
I have to admit that it can be tempting to neglect the proper soil
preparation. It is a lot of hard work - all that digging and shoveling!
And it just doesn't give you that satisfying feeling that you get when
you look over a row of transplanted seedlings or newly sown vegetables.
Not to mention that it is often still quite nippy outside! (Although this
spring (2001) is too hot! The grass is always greener!) But proper soil
preparation is the solid foundation upon which your thriving garden will
grow.
You'll need to:
- Test the soil's pH, and nutrient needs
- Turn over the earth to at least 8 " deep
(preferably 12"). But don't start this too early! If you can squeeze
a handful of soil and it stays a ball, it's still too wet - you'll damage
the soil structure.
- Add fertilizer - either compost, manure or
chemical fertilizers (or all of the above)
- Spade and fork the soil to remove larger clumps
- Weed and seed your grass patchy areas of your
lawn. Some people say hold off fertilizing as it will encourage leaf
growth over the establishment of a good root system. Others say that
an established lawn should have a light fertilizing to help it green
up - this camp doesn't seem concerned about overly affecting the roots
/ leaf balance. (I'll try to find articles that represent both sides
at a later date. Weigh in with your own opinion by e-mail, or at our
forum).
- Prune bushes - only those that are summer
flowerers. Otherwise, you'll trim off this year's spring flowers on
bushes like forsythia!
Plants that can be started in early May include:
- Root crops (carrots, turnips, onions, beets)
- Cole crops (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage)
- Spinach, peas, beans,
- Herbs.
The general rule is to hold off on plants
that bear fruit (i.e. seeds on the inside of the flesh) like tomatoes, peppers,
eggplants, squash, etc) until Memorial Day. Unless you don't mind running
out nightly with covers! |
|
