Growing Roots for Your New Marriage
By Kayley George, RDN, LD
Plants are one of the most beautiful symbols of life. They represent a fresh start, a new beginning, and opportunity for growth. Much like the season of life as an engaged bride, plants can be a lovely reflection of the next chapter in your life.
If you’re looking to add some plants into your life, herbs and veggies are a great way to start. Here are some great tips and tricks to help get your garden going and set it up to flourish.
Know Your Seasons
Everybody knows there are four seasons, right? Except in gardening, you only need to be concerned with two, the cool season (spring and fall) and the warm season (summer). Right now, we are in the middle of the warm season, which is prime growing season for vegetables such as corn, melons, peppers, and many more. Most herbs thrive in warmer weather, like basil, rosemary, and thyme. Since we are in the middle of that season, new gardeners will want to be preparing to plant vegetables and herbs that thrive in the cool season. Late summer is the perfect time to plant vegetables that can tolerate chillier temperatures such as broccoli, kale, and carrots. You are also able to plant herbs like cilantro, dill, and parsley that are able to withstand the lower temperatures. These vegetables will definitely bloom in the months of fall and spring, but are also able to survive the winters in warmer climates.
Location, Location, Location
Depending on the plant, some require more or less light than others. It's your job as the gardener to know which is which. Most of the time you will be able to find what is best for the individual plant on the label or seed package when you first purchase it. Most warm season vegetables and herbs do well in full sun, so you will want to pick a spot that receives sunlight throughout the day. On the other hand, cool season vegetables and herbs require less sunlight, thus prosper in shadier areas.
Watering
Many people are guilty of either over- or under-watering their plants and are unable to find the happy medium. While all plants are different, a good rule to go by is to wait until the top layer of soil is dry, then give your plants a deep watering. This can be anywhere from every other day to once a week. Now you might be thinking it would be better to water your plants a little every day so they are never dry. However, this only waters the top layer of soil, which promotes the plant's roots to stay very surface level. The goal is to have the roots grounded deeply within the soil, so it is better to soak the soil for a longer period of time but less times overall.
Mulch and Soil
Like everything else in life, the foundation of your garden is super important. You want to make sure that you are providing your plants with every opportunity to thrive. Vegetables often do well in moist, well-drained soil. For the roots of the plants to blossom, they need oxygen, so be sure that your soil is allotted enough time between waterings to create air pockets. The best soil structure is crumbly, easy to dig, accepts water easily, and offers oxygen for plant roots. It is also important to note that fertilizer is not the answer to everything - good soil quality is more important. To achieve top notch quality soil, add organic materials such as compost and well-aged manure to your soil.
Pests
Pests are never good news, however they are an inevitable part of gardening. The best way to combat against them is to be prepared and do your research. Almost every pest has a different solution, but there are a few basic guidelines you can follow.
Fungal Diseases: The golden rule to avoid fungal diseases is to water the soil of your garden and not the leaves of the plants. If a plant does become sick, remove it from your garden as soon as you notice and throw it away!
Insects: These little buggers can be difficult to get rid of once they arrive. Some insects are large enough to pick off by hand, whereas others call for hardier action. Most local gardening shops will carry insecticidal soap sprays to control harmful bugs or row covers, which are lightweight sheets of translucent plastic, that protect young crops against many common insects.
Weeds
Nobody likes having weeds in their garden. To be free of weeds, the best policy is to weed early and often. Weeds steal nutrients and space from the plants in your garden, so you will want to get rid of them as soon as you see them. If possible, pull the weeds before they mature and reproduce to avoid a takeover.
This is just a few basic tips for starting a garden. For more detailed information, you can click here, here, here, or here. Happy gardening!
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Published on Sep 17, 2019 at 8:03 pm