What is the first thing you put in a garden?
I prefer organic compost – I put my plants straight into that and they grow fast, large, and healthy. Many garden centers now sell bags of raised bed soil and that’s a good option too. Use a rake to even the soil out, but don’t smoosh it down – plants like non-compacted soil for their roots to easily spread through. Add Organic Matter Compost (or aged manure) adds nutrients, improves drainage, and loosens compacted soil so roots get the oxygen they need. According to Cornell University: For new garden beds, mix 2 to 3 inches of compost into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil.
When to start a garden?
The average first and last frost dates are key indicators of when to plant. Cool-weather crops, such as spinach, peas, and radishes, go in about three weeks before your average last frost date. Wait until after the final frost to plant warm-weather vegetables and herbs, such as tomatoes, peppers, and basil. Planting and Extending the Season Now is the ideal time to plant overwintering garlic, onion sets and shallots. Bok Choi, overwintering cabbage, kale, chard and other salad greens can still be planted from starts in October, but it’s too late for planting seeds.Brassicas – kale, cabbage, turnips, and broccoli will all grow over the winter months. Some varieties of spinach beet will survive frosts. Root veg such as carrots and beetroot can be harvested late autumn, and stored carefully for several months. As can potatoes, onions and garlic.Deciding What You Will Plant Cool-season vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, carrots, and assorted greens. Broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts are best started as transplants in the fall garden.
Which vegetables should not be planted next to each other?
For example, tomatoes and cucumbers can compete for nutrients and space, leading to reduced yields. Carrots and parsnips, when planted together, can attract similar pests, which can hinder their development. Peppers and beans should not be planted side by side because beans can inhibit the growth of peppers. Brassicas – they are heavy feeders that might steal nutrients from tomatoes. Potatoes– in the same family as tomatoes so susceptible to the same pests and heavy feeding. Corn– attract the same pests. Fennel – not a good companion plant for vegetables.
Are there any vegetables that can be planted in October?
Mid-fall (September to early October): Plant root vegetables like carrots, turnips, and radishes. These need time to develop but grow quickly in cool weather. Late fall (October): Hardy greens like kale, winter lettuce, and chard can be planted closer to frost since they’re more cold-tolerant. If you’re in a MILD CLIMATE, you can plant things like carrots, lettuce, radish, spinach, and sugar snap peas. For those of you in a HOT CLIMATE it is the perfect time to plant dill, kale, lettuce, parsley, and swiss chard.If you are new to gardening, you may not realize that—even if you had some leftover seeds—heat-loving veggies such as peppers, beans, squashes, and eggplants cannot be planted in fall gardens because they will not have enough time to fruit before a frost.