FountainFlow.Com

Fertilizer and Irrigation Ensure Gardening Success

Loamy soil, which is a mixture of sand, silt, and clay, is the best kind of soil for producing a healthy garden. It crumbles easily in your hand, and does not have too much clay, which retains moisture and messes with drainage. It is also not too sandy; therefore it provides adequate support for growing plants, and the needed nutrients.

The key to achieving loamy soil is twofold: quality fertilizer and proper water supply.

By testing the soil before you start, you will know what things you need to add to balance it out. A simple testing kit checks nutrient and pH levels. When growing vegetables pH levels are very important because some prefer acidic soil, while others thrive in a more basic setting. In general, most do best when grown in soil that tests between 6.0 and 6.5.

To adjust the pH level sulfur or lime, nutrients found in most fertilizers, should be added. These adjustments should be made several months before you plan on planting, which, in Northern climates, may mean after the fall harvest.

Compost piles are a great source of nutrients, and should be added to the topsoil three weeks before planting. Tilling the compost into the top layer of soil helps to speed up the introduction of the nutrients into the soil. Organic and artificial fertilizers, such as NPK 8-8-8 can be added right before planting to supplement the soil. In general, about twenty pounds per thousand square feet is sufficient.

Vegetable plants love water, however sitting in a bed of water can cause root rot. By maintaining moist soil, plants can receive the proper amount of water they need to grow and support themselves.

Water helps out plants in a number of ways. It aids in the carrying of nutrients throughout the plant, plays a part in the process of photosynthesis, and helps the cell structures to remain stiff and firm. Most gardens need about an inch of water per week, which equates to 65 gallons per 100 square feet. The amount of water, of course, depends on the type of soil. From spring to fall it is vital to monitor the rainfall and supplement any additional water that your plants may need.

This, thankfully, is not difficult.

When water is applied to vegetable plants under moderate temperatures, they do not wilt like flowering plants do; however, it is still necessary to water with care. By watering early in the day the top layer of soil and leaves can dry out by the time cool night temperatures arrive, keeping fungi at bay. Some choose to build modest drip irrigation systems out of rubber tubing. These effect and inexpensive systems should be placed at the base of the plant to ensure the roots are receiving a proper supply of water.

With a drip irrigation system in place, only the occasionally traditional watering is necessary. This serves to clean the leaves and keep their pores open. Watering when it is hot outside is unproductive as it causes the pores to open, and evaporate more moisture then they have been given. Water droplets may also act as miniature magnifying glasses and burn small holes in the leaves.

December 22 2008 | Gardening | No Comments »

Tips For Planning A Successful Vegetable Garden

Growing vegetables is much easier than many other plants. With just a minimum of good planning, proper planting and a little bit of care you’ll have a bounty of tasty, natural things to eat.

But before you sow a seed, think.

Climate

Consider your climate first and foremost. Know the conditions necessary for the type of vegetables you plant, so be sure to understand how these plants will be influenced by tropical, temperate, or cold weather. Within these broad categories there are several sub-types. The range of climates in the U.S., for example, runs across a dozen zones. You should not plant tomatoes – a heat-loving vegetable – when you can anticipate a frost after winter’s end.

On the other hand, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, onions and more grow well when in cooler climates. They like 50F-68F (10C-20C) weather and will tolerate frost fairly well. Cabbage, carrots, lettuce and others will prefer slightly warmer temperatures, about 60F-75F (15C-25C). Tomatoes, corn, eggplant and potatoes prefer it hot.

Your garden can get too much wind. Providing a wind break might be a good idea. Wind can dry the soil and break tall plants. Cold winds, in particular, tend to stunt plant growth. They remove the heat provided by the sun. A garden lattice or an appropriately designed fence can solve the problem.

Location

Next, consider the total area and location of your planned vegetable garden. A family of four might do well with a 100 square meters, but that’s far more than a novice gardener will want to care for at first. Beyond size, think of the specific needs and nature of each plant. Corn grows tall, so it will produce shade. But you don’t want that shade to block sun desired by those tomatoes.

When considering the location, think about what you might have to do to protect the vegetable plants from excessive shade and wind. Some places are shaded naturally, and perhaps too much so.

Vegetables like sunlight. At least five hours per day is needed by most. You’ll be able to tell they aren’t getting enough if your vegetables are far below average size, if the leaves are wimpy looking and by other signs. Plant the taller vegetables, like corn, to the north of the shorter ones. Plants low to the ground, like lettuce, need to be nearer the south edge.

Water

Give your vegetables plenty of water. Unlike herbs and some other plants, vegetables need lots of water to grow. They’ll need good drainage in sandy loam in order to avoid root rot. But beyond that, the more water, the better. Watering the base and roots is more important than keeping the leaves wet. A drip system can provide the perfect solution here.

Be prepared to do what the pros do and rotate your crops from year to year. Different plants take different things from the soil in varying quantities. Some of that can be replaced with compost, fertilizer and other soil treatments. But help out by changing your design once in a while.

July 25 2008 | Gardening | No Comments »