TIME TO START WORKING IN THE GARDEN
Spring has finally arrived in Fort Wayne, and with the risk of a freeze behind us, it’s time to go play in the dirt! Growing vegetables in your own garden is easy and by putting in a little work now, you will reap the benefits at harvest time.
Build the fertility of the soil
The best way to accomplish a fertile garden plot is to cover it with compost. Compost is made up of organic materials that may come from your kitchen scraps and/or yard waste such as grass clippings or leaves. You can also purchase compost at your local home and garden store. Apply a layer of about 2 – 3 inches over the garden area.
Cultivate the soil
Plants need to be able to easily dig down into the soil and spread their roots to collect food and water. Loosening the soil will allow the vegetables to produce a healthy root system. Using a tiller is the best way to break up compacted soil and will mix in the nutrient rich compost providing a fertile bed for the new plants.
After tilling the garden, smooth out the surface with a rake to provide a blank canvas for the design of your garden.
Planting Your Garden
Begin planting your garden by using a string to make straight lines from one side of the garden to the other. For each type of seed, use the seed manufacture’s recommended planting distance between seeds and rows. This will also apply if you are planting already started plants such as tomatoes or peppers. This will give the plants room to grow without getting cramped. You may want to leave extra space between rows to allow for walking in your garden to weed and pick your harvest.
Fertilizer
As an option, you may spread fertilizer over the garden now. Most fertilizers will mix with the rain and slowly feed the plants and increase the harvest. There are many alternatives for fertilizers that range from pre-packaged chemicals to organic fertilizers that are derived from farm waste. Pick up a bag of fertilizer at your local home and garden store.
Finally, give the garden a good initial watering. This will help keep the soil moist and start dissolving the nutrients into a usable form that the plants or seeds can start absorbing right away.
Tillers in Fort Wayne
Visit Crescent Avenue Gardens today. We can help you find the best tiller for your gardening projects.