We are in peak garden season and there’s a lot happening out there. The dry weeks of July have made two practices essential: watering and mulching. While you enjoy some satisfying harvests and flowers, stay alert to new pests showing up now to prevent serious damage. There are some more things that can be planted now too. Garlic harvest is almost here so let’s look at the best way to harvest, cure, and select next year’s crop. Weeds are growing…
Garden planting and transplanting is now in full swing and everything we want to grow can be planted out including favorites like tomato & pepper plants, squashes, potatoes, onion sets, broccoli, herbs, or greens. But one question remains, which plants make good garden companions with each other, and which do not? Plants affect their neighbors and the soil around them so we should try to place compatible or non-competitive plants near each other when possible. A similar principle applies when…
June brings better gardening weather, what a welcome change! Although it’s been dry for Vermont spring, recent rains have created a great time to get new plants into their outdoor homes for the summer. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, and salad greens have mostly been planted out. It’s time for heat loving plants like basil, tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, squash, okra, sweet potatoes, & peppers to be in the ground. Annual flowers like geraniums, petunias, marigolds, nasturtiums, and snapdragons will do well…
Sunny, warmer days make the garden real in May. While there are many garden plants that can be seeded outdoors now, don’t be tempted to start working your soil if it is still wet. If you insist on tilling your garden it is very important to wait until the soil has drained and dried enough to be crumbly, not gooey or sticky. I do not till my garden soil at all because tilling is very damaging to soil & unnecessary. …
On this 50th edition of Vermont Home Gardener I would like to announce No Mow May and promote raised bed gardening. There are so many advantages to growing in raised beds that we really should consider them for any garden. Whether you are beginning a new garden or wish to improve an established garden, raised beds will make your garden more productive, more convenient, and are less work in the long run (no tilling, ever!). Raised beds do very well…
We’re slowly getting to the time of year when we can plant some things into the ground. Some things can go in early, other things need to wait for warmer days. How do we know what to plant when? Most soil is still too wet to dig or till unless you have raised beds. Let’s look at several ways to help determine when it’s best to plant seeds or put out transplants. Also, a few words about the benefits of…
Despite our recent wintery week April is National Garden Month so now is a great time to think about starting a garden and the planning and choices we can make. Most basically, “What should I grow?” depends on what you want to eat or to see in your yard, and the kind of work you can do. Soil & climate conditions in Vermont place some limits on our choices but we do have a great selection of hardy fruits, vegetables,…
Snow has been replaced by slippery mud, a sure sign that spring is almost here! We now get just over 12 hours of daylight per day and that stimulates new plant growth. It also makes our gardens irresistible on warmer days. Don’t be tempted to get too ambitious just yet, but there are several jobs that can be done before digging soil. Houseplants and indoor sheltered garden plants would benefit from a feeding now. I prefer to use a liquid…
As March gets started, we can’t be sure if it’s going to snow or be mud season. We have seen some brave sprouts peeking up from bulbs such as irises, lilies, snow drops, and early crocuses. Some would call this “Fool’s Spring”. Nevertheless, there are some garden preparations we can be doing, including planting onions, petunias, and coffee! If you haven’t yet pruned your fruit trees (apples, pears, cherries, etc.) these mild days might be your last chance to get…
Here we are… winter in Vermont with beautiful snow, cold nighttime temperatures, and there’s still plenty to keep a good gardener busy. If you haven’t ordered your garden seeds yet, that is your #1 priority! Look at the short list of local seed companies that I listed in the previous article (or any others that you like) and you can browse their online catalogs from the comfort of home. This is not the year to delay, the best varieties are…