You can buy your vegetables from the market, but there’s something about growing your own that makes cooking so much sweeter. With spring and summer on the way, now is a great time to plant a garden on your property. Here are some tips to get you started!
First thing’s first, don’t overdo it! It’s tempting to plant a large garden at first, but the maintenance to keep it healthy can be daunting. It’s better to have a small garden that excels than to a big one you can’t keep up with. 16X10 feet is a good size to start with. You’ll want to create 11 rows at about 10 feet in length each. Run the rows north to south to take advantage of the sun.
Speaking of sun, you need to pick a good location to place your garden. Obviously, areas with a lot of sunlight are a must. Your plants should be getting at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Your soil also needs to be soft enough for the roots to sink deep. Compost can help give your plants needed nutrients to grow healthy. You’ll also want a good drainage system that doesn’t keep the water on top of the soil or having it run through immediately. Make sure your garden’s location is relatively protected from more severe weather. Even something as simple as strong winds can damage your young plants before they can grow.
Before planting, be sure to contact your local cooperative extension service. They’ll give you detailed information on what grows best in the area and the best times to plant each variety. Some good basic vegetables that generally do well in most areas are tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, beets, carrots, and radishes.
Miller Meadows wants our residents to stay healthy and happy! If you already call us home, let us know how we can improve our community! If you’re not a resident yet, what are you waiting for? Call our onsite manager, Carla, for more information and availability, at 801-798-1728.