Vegetable Gardening Basics

There is renewed interest in vegetable gardening are some tips to get you off to a good start.
 
•         Keep the garden a manageable size.
•         Get a soil test. They cost $9 and can be purchased from your county’s Penn State Extension office. Apply the nutrients so your plants will thrive.
•         Apply the correct type of lime. Most soil test recommendations call for high calcium lime, not lime containing more than 3% magnesium.
•         Apply organic matter to build your soil. Manure, compost, leaves all work well. If you use manure it is recommended to work it into the soil at least 4 months before harvest for food safety reasons.
•         Select the best varieties available. Look for varieties that have both good disease resistance and good flavor. Avoid late maturing varieties. Visit local greenhouses that offer varieties that do well in our area.
•         Plant at the optimum time. Cool season crops like cabbage, broccoli, and lettuce do well when planted in April to early May. Warm season crops like tomatoes, beans, peppers, and eggplant do well when planted in late May.
•         Control the weeds early. Frequent, shallow cultivation is much better than pulling weeds after they have competed with the vegetables.
•         Keep the garden soil moist but not wet. If possible, apply water to the soil without wetting plant foliage.
•         Enjoy the fruits of your labor.
 
For more detailed information check out Penn State’s new vegetable gardening publication at http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/freepubs/pdfs/agrs115.pdf .