Planting the perfect berry or vegetable garden has many challenges. The availability of water, an abundance of natural predators and the precipitation and ground conditions are all variables that can affect the success of a garden. Planting a successful garden is much like building a house – if you do not have the correct construction plans, your plans will not come together. Likewise, if you do not understand how to properly utilize the land that you have, your garden will never reach its full potential.
One of the most important things to consider when planting a garden is the soil. Soil is substantially affected by the climate, the exposure to sun and the degree of drainage. Many berries require damp, acidic soil with a pH level between 5.5 and 6.8. For areas that have many rocks, well-drained and fertile soil, you should seek out berry bushes that can grow in these conditions.
One variable that plays a large role in nutrient availability is the exposure to sun. Nutrients become less available to plants with long wavelength (UV) exposure and continued exposure to the sun. This is particularly important for products such as aggregates, peaches and stone fruits that are more suited to acidic soil. You should purposely seek out spaces that will maximize exposure to the sun’s rays.
The ground that is fertile should contain large numbers of matted roots that will act as water storage for your plants. Many plants including tomatoes, squash and potatoes will thrive in interesting, nutrient-rich and moist soil. Yet, for soils that are poor in potassium, you may wish to see if some heirloom plants can be planted for support.
The next thing to consider is the correct size of your planting area. It is best to place strawberry plants about three feet apart; for kale and broccoli, five to ten feet apart and five to ten feet apart for radishes and onions. If you do not have bees, butterflies or hummingbirds, you may need to Eurasate some bee-friendly plants such as sunflowers or peonies.
It is important to start with a unnoticed portion of your yard. Be sure to check your backyard for rocks, boards, twigs and debris that can tip over your plants and cause an accident. board or tree limbs with nooks and crannies for moisture or moisture normally stay where they are. You may want to drive a small stake into the ground to identify potential nesting areas so you can take necessary preventative steps to keep bees and other pests from having a hush-filled home.
If you grow a variety of beans, you will want to find the ones that have some type of pest repellent on them so they can then be placed out in the yard to delight the birds. If you are going to grow squash, check the male varieties for nectar and try to enticing him into your garden with twigs and plant pots. Be sure to fertilize the green beans in the growing season and use some sort of bean transplant if they have become too plentiful. Green bean beetles can be killed by squash beetles, so it is up to you to figure out what to do.
It is finally time to plan the garden. Scatter the seeds and sprinkle the mulch. If you plan to mulch, spread crushed eggshells or other mulch around the plants. You may even want to locate a section of the yard where you can start a compost pile and turn the material immediately after mowing. By doing so, the material is turned as it absorbs into the soil and increases the value of your fertilizer in the end.
If you do not want to buy seeds, you can also buy plants. Blooming broccoli plants are great for borders, since broccoli grows to a bushy plant size. If you plan to plant broccoli in the ground, it is up to you to decide where to plant it. You can find growing broccoli plants from your local nursery for surrounding areas. Growing broccoli is not hard and the reward is worth it. The main things you need to know about growing broccoli are: growing broccoli, the best way to grow broccoli, and some of the signs that it is ready to be harvested. Once you schedule a few hours of mulching time each week, you will surely grow healthy broccoli.
