INTRODUCTION TO
GARDENING:
·
What
constitutes a garden? Short answer, any piece of soil deliberately hosting a
plant or plants. A garden may be as simple as a pot on the deck. It might be
raised beds or containers or a designated plot of any dimension.
·
Soil: regardless
of the shape or size of the garden, soil is where it begins. Your garden soil
is not a matter of fate. It doesn’t matter how large or small your garden space
is, you have the same control of the soil as you do with a pot you fill with
garden mix. Soil is the most common garden medium. Plants can thrive without
it, but that’s a whole different science—Hydroponics. Soil supports the plants
as well as retains and carries nutrients. The quality of the soil determines
how effective it is.
o Balance: The
composition of soil is primarily CLAY—SAND—HUMOUS (organics) If your soil is
too heavy or sandy, it’s a composition problem, not a divine mandate; change
it.
§ Heavy (clay)
soil is hard to work with and it is difficult for plants to thrive. Change it
by adding sand and compost, generally in equal proportions. A tiller is the
most effective way to mix and blend soil, but in small spaces, a shovel will
work well.
§ Sandy soil, if
it is too sandy, won’t retain water and so plants can struggle. Change it by
adding clay and compost. (this is generally not a problem for Riverton)
§ Balanced
composition—a quick and easy test for soil composition is the ball test; take a
handful of moist soil from the garden spot, squeeze it into a ball. If the ball
holds its shape but crumbles easily, the composition is probably good. If the
ball will not crumble, it is heavy with clay and needs more sand and compost.
If you cannot form a ball, the soil is too much sand and/or compost; add clay
·
Sunlight:
o Garden
vegetables and most other plants need direct sunlight, as much as possible.
Your garden spot should be in the yard’s sunniest location (there are plants
that love shade)
o Plantings should
be done so that taller plants don’t shade others during the garden season
·
Garden
space or plot:
o Where there is
adequate space, a ground level plot works well
o Limited
space—pots, grow bags, containers and raised beds, vertical gardening is also
an option
o Square foot
gardening maximizes your available garden space
·
Know
your zone: The USDA has mapped the
entire country by climate or hardiness zone, ranging from coldest to hottest, 1
through 10. Gurney's:
Find Your USDA Hardiness Zone with our Zone Map (gurneys.com) It is important to know your zone
because that is what determines whether a plant is perennial or annual in your
garden. Riverton is in zone 6 or 7, which means that plants that do not
tolerate freezing will not grow here without the aid of a greenhouse or other
measures. Our growing season is generally from April 15 to October 15 but frost
free from May 20 to October 1, approximately 130 days frost free and 180 days
total, more or less depending on the weather.
·
What
to plant? Just about anything you want,
but check the number of days required from planting to harvest. If the number
of days permits, it will likely do well.
·
Timing;
when to plant is as important as what to plant.
o Cool crops: some
vegetables can be planted long before the last frost, like mid March to early
April: Peas, carrots, lettuce, chard,
broccoli, cabbage, spinach, and others can be sewn directly in the garden
early. Because of light and temperature they will likely not germinate until
mid April
o Corn, tomatoes,
potatoes, squash, melons, cucumbers should not be planted until May 20, earlier
if you’re sure there won’t be a frost. Most of these plants can handle a light
frost, but if they have to come back from a frost they don’t produce as well.
·
Watering
o Overhead—most
plants will tolerate overhead spraying, but it is not the most effective
watering method and can contribute to the spread of fungal, pest and other
problems.
o Direct
irrigation—either by drip or furrow is effective and efficient and generally
speaking, plants prefer it.
·
Fertilizers:
o Fertilizers are
formulations of the 3 to 4 most basic nutrients plants need. Plants use trace
elements that are generally available in the soil. The basic elements in commercial
fertilizers are: Nitrogen—Phosphorus—Potassium(potash)—Sulfur, each are
essential to specific plant needs:
§ Nitrogen—leaf
and green growth
§ Phosphorus—roots
and stems
§ Potassium—roots,
stems and fruit
§ Sulfur—lowers
pH—not present in all formulations
o Formulas:
§ 16-16-8 16% nitrogen, 16% phosphorus, 8% potassium
(also comes with iron added) This is a good all purpose garden formula applied
in the fall or early spring
§ 21-0-0 (ammonium
sulfate) 21% nitrogen. 24% sulfur; Good
for greening up lawns and giving corn a boost.
The sulfur content also helps to keep the pH down which helps to make
other nutrients available to plants
§ 34-0-0 (ammonium
nitrate) 34% nitrogen, Good for green
lawns
§ 12-12-12
(Miracle Grow) a balance formula good for almost all garden plants
§ 14-14-14 another balanced formula, just a little
stronger
§ Slow
release—balanced formulas are available in slow release which means an
application can last all season. Osmocote is popular but the brand name makes
it pricy. Other brands are just as good and less money. Look for the
formulation and “slow release”
§ WATCH THE
NITROGEN—fertilizers high in nitrogen should not be used on tomatoes, potatoes
and most other garden plants and vegetables. Too much nitrogen will produce
huge and beautiful plants with little or zero blossoms and fruit.
·
Tools
o Shovel—for
turning and mixing soil as well as harvesting root crops and clearing the spent
garden. A shovel and muscle will do what a tiller does where the space doesn’t
warrant the tiller
o Hoe—for
cultivating, planting, aerating, and more cultivating. I have a hoe that is
only 2” wide and is my favorite and most used tool. It does everything a common
hoe does but is small enough to do it all in tight and crowded plantings.
o Garden rake—used
primarily for fall and spring clean up
o Leaf rake—fall
and spring clean up
o Garden
trowel—for planting and cultivating in pots and container gardens
o Other
tools—there are many and all are optional. 95% of my gardening is done with my
shovel and mini hoe.
Help
links:
CONTAINER GARDENING for BEGINNERS: 10 Simple Steps - YouTube
Cheap and Easy Container Gardening: Step by Step - YouTube
My Most Beautiful Organic Garden Summer Harvest EVER! 🍅🍆🍓🫑🌶🥒 - Bing video Cali Kim does a lot with small spaces
3 Clever Ways to GROW MORE in a Small Space - YouTube
Grow THESE 3 Veggies in Your Vertical Garden - YouTube
SQUARE FOOT Gardening, How to Grow MORE FOOD in LESS SPACE! - YouTube
You can find ideas and help on just about any garden
question with the help of YouTube
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