Get growing - Learn the basics of vegetable gardening

Now that May is here, we are officially in the right part of the calendar and the weather looks to be favorable for the gardening frenzy to begin. We still have a very minor threat of a late frost but looking at the extended forecast, I believe we are clearly safe from frost harm. There is nothing that can beat the fresh, mouth-watering flavor of home-grown vegetables and there is nothing more satisfying than harvesting vegetables from a garden you have planted, cared for and watched grow. When it comes to vegetable gardening, the most important elements are location, soil, sunlight, garden layout, plant types and maintenance, which includes weed and insect control.

Location is important because you need to see your garden. Seeing the garden each day insures you are making sure the plants are growing and seeds are sprouting. It also helps you make timely management decisions. The garden layout on paper will help you plan your strategies of how and what should be planted in the garden. Consider utilizing trellises and cages to get certain plants more upright in the garden such as tomatoes. Using cages or trellises will keep these plants from spreading over the garden surface and allow room for more plants of different variety.

Soil in the vegetable garden should be loose and include organic matter. Organic matter improves soil by releasing nitrogen, minerals and other nutrients for healthy plant growth. The soil should provide adequate drainage; therefore, it may be necessary to locate your garden in an area that does not permit plants to sit in overly saturated sites. Working the soil before planting is critical. If the soil appears to be too wet it probably is too wet. Be sure to not work the soil before it has dried out some.

Most crops depend on at least eight hours of full sun in order to grow properly. Be sure to keep hedges or trees at a safe distance as they can either cast too much shade onto the garden or compete with crops for nutrients or moisture. Keep at least 75 or 100 feet away from walnut trees. The root of the walnut produces a toxin that can kill or make sick some garden plants such as tomatoes.

The types of plants must suit the climate and your taste buds as well. It is usually a good idea to familiarize yourself with the different types available and their individual needs. For instance, vegetables generally fall within one of four types: hardy, half-hardy, tender and extremely tender. Hardy varieties include onions, radishes, broccoli, cabbage, and asparagus. These types of plants can normally tolerate temperatures below freezing and are usually the first to be put into the garden. The half-hardy types such as beets, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce or potatoes can tolerate light frosts and can be put into the garden slightly before the last frost is expected. Tender crops do not tolerate cooler temperatures and are easily damaged by frost. Corn, beans and tomatoes typically fall into this category. The most tender include the vine crops: cucumbers, melons, squash and pumpkins. A temperature of at least 65 degrees or more is required for these plants.

Know when your crops will be ready for harvest so that you can plan around vacation and other events. If there is going to be a conflict, look at planting a little later or using a variety that has a shorter growing to harvest period. Grow what you and your family like to eat. It is also helpful to have several recipes to use the food you produce to keep it enjoyable.

Maintenance is important in your vegetable garden. The inability to properly maintain a vegetable garden leads to poor growth and development of crops. The maintenance includes daily inspection. That is why location is so important. If we can see the garden you know if something is going wrong. Many times, I see at the Extension office plants sickened or damaged well after the damage is done and there is no hope for rescue. It generally only takes a day or so for insects or a disease to damage plants beyond recovery.

Watering is critical to your garden. If you plan on using a sprinkler system it is best to water your garden in the morning so that the leaves can dry before the evening hours. Damp plants at night can promote certain diseases. If your work schedule allows you to only water in the evening then I suggest using a soaker hose system that wets the soil and not the plants.

Consider the interplanting method, which is to plant a short-term plant with a longer-term plant so more crop can be grown in a smaller space. Another method is succession planting, which if using short-term varieties, plant, harvest and replant the same crop to get maximum use of garden space.

Harvest is critical. Know when your plants will be ready. The quality of the produce will be impacted partially on how timely it is harvested. If you have or plan to have excess produce, be sure to look into freezing and canning to extend the enjoyment of your garden.

The Ohio State University Extension office has several vegetable related factsheets and bulletins to help you with your gardening quest. You can stop by the office at 111 S. Nelson Ave., Wilmington, to get this information or you can go to www.ohioline.osu.edu under the “Yard and Garden” heading and find all the vegetable information Ohio State has to offer. Until then, happy gardening!