Leaf crops give you a bigger, longer yield per plant if you harvest a few outer leaves at a time instead of removing the whole plant. That way you’ll be sure to have enough plants at all stages of maturity to ensure against any losses caused by unseasonable heat or early frost. Consider the salad crops you use up fastest ― lettuce and radishes, for example ― then plant a dozen seeds of each every two weeks until frost. If there’s room in your garden, try succession planting.
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You can frame raised beds with lumber or form unframed beds like ours by shaping soil into level, flat-sided mounds about 8 inches high. The loose soil is easily penetrated by roots, making it possible for carrots and radishes to develop perfectly. Filled with light commercial topsoil, raised beds afford excellent drainage and warm up quickly in mild, sunny weather.
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You can use any complete fertilizer, but in our test garden, we used fish emulsion exclusively.īy far the fastest and most effective way to start a vegetable garden ― especially if you have poor soil ― is to use raised beds. The row covers not only shield the young plants from the scorching sun but also help keep insects at bay and provide frost protection during the cold months.įertilize at planting time, then once every two months. Since you’re starting tender seedlings during the heat of summer, you’ll need to shade them with floating row covers after planting. Loose, light well-amended soil is easier for roots to penetrate, retains nutrients better, and drains well after winter rains. Nurseries carry seedlings of many winter vegetables, but their selections may be limited.ĭig plenty of compost into your garden soil before planting. You can order from a seed supplier by computer, fax, or phone and obtain almost any variety of vegetable you want within a few days. The advantage of seeds is their low cost and great diversity. You can start cool-season vegetables from seeds if you sow early enough, or set out transplants later in the season. If you’re late, you miss it.” Our chart shows when to plant so you’ll be on track for fall and winter harvest. One of Sunset‘s editors once observed: “Starting a garden is like catching a train.