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 What's
for dinner? How about...
...A
colorful salad brimming with just-picked
tomatoes. Or maybe pasta with a sauce made
rich in taste by home-grown herbs. Or a
side dish of straight-from-your-garden squash.
Veggies from your garden simply
taste better. They're crisper,
sweeter, and always have that just-picked
freshness.
If
you haven't started your vegetable garden
yet, it's not too late... but you'll want
to get it in now. We're heading
into a prime growing season, so go ahead
and get all those warm-weather vegetables
in the ground. About this time of year,
you should consider choosing vegetable starts
over seeds.
Vegetables
are easy to grow and fit into any size garden,
even if you only have a little space. Till
a spare plot of soil or mix them in with
your landscape shrubs or flowers. Most also
grow well in planters set out on a sunny
deck. Just make sure these planters get
at least 6 hours of sun daily.
Tomatoes
are an easy bet. They bloom quickly
and abundantly. And summer salads just wouldn't
be the same without them. Other good-to-grow
vegetables include squash
(including Halloween pumpkins ),
beans , corn ,
cucumbers , eggplant
and peppers.
Here's
a fun family idea… Give each family
member a garden space or planter to create
their own mini garden. Kids are a lot more
willing to eat vegetables they planted and
grew themselves!
Soil
preparation and planting tips…
- Dig or till the soil to a depth of
10-12".
- Add compost or other humus, digging
it in to lighten and nourish the soil.
- For each start, dig a hole about 6"
deep, double the diameter of the root
ball.
- Put a 2" layer of compost in the bottom
of the hole, with 1 tablespoon of fertilizer
mixed in.
- Fill the hole with water and let it
sink into the soil.
- Remove the veggie start from its plastic
pot, being careful not to damage the roots.
- Plant in the hole, gently firming soil
around the root ball.
- Water thoroughly.
Stop
by your garden center today for summer vegetable
starts, plus all the tools, soil amendments
and fertilizer you need to get them growing
strong...
While
much of the information in these tips is
applicable in several gardening zones/climates,
some of the plants and timing suggested
are best suited to the Northwest, generally
in the mild/wet growing regions found along
the I-5 corridor. You should make appropriate
adjustments or consult local gardening experts
in regions whose climates differ from this
area of the Northwest.
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