Three Important Things To Consider When Planting a Garden

***SUN***SOIL***WATER***

• SUN: You should choose the sunniest spot in your yard for your garden. All garden vegetables do best in full sun, but some will do quite well if they have at least one half day's sun. Cool weather crops, such as broccoli, peas, lettuce and other leaf crops, will do fairly well in partial shade areas. But heat-loving plants like tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, corn, and beans need maximum sun. Pick a spot on the south side of your house, fence, or yard if possible. You can also use black plastic on the ground around your plants to attract heat, plus it keeps out the weeds.   

•  SOIL: There are three types of soil- sand, silt, and clay. If you have too much of one type, your plants will not do well. The best way to improve your soil is to add organic material each year. There are three ways to get organic material. 
  
  
  1. From the Garden – return everything to the soil. Whatever plant parts are left in the kitchen should be saved and returned to the garden. A compost pile or compost bin can be useful if done correctly.
  2. From the Yard – All available grass clippings, leaves, sawdust and wood chips of any kind should be worked into the garden
  3. From the Nursery – Compost (poultry manure is best) or fertilizer (16-16-8) can be purchased from the store.
  
  
  One thing to consider when planning and laying out your garden is soil compaction. You want to keep your soil as soft and porous as possible in order for roots to spread and oxygen to be able to reach those roots. Furrows or paths between rows to walk in is the best way to keep soil soft and fluffy. Raised beds stay nice and soft because you never step into them. 
  •     WATER: How and When to water your garden is probably the biggest mistake people make when it comes to gardening. Plants need to be watered deeply and infrequently. Deep, but infrequent irrigation allows more air in the soil and promotes a deep, extensive and healthy root system. This is true for the garden, the lawn and most flower beds and shrubs. Cool weather crops (peas, lettuce, broccoli, carrots, etc) need to be kept cool and moist and need to be watered twice a week. Heat loving plants or warm weather crops (tomatoes, beans, squash, corn, peppers, etc) only need to be watered once a week to every ten days. If you don't have the time to worry about watering the garden, water once a week for everything, but remember to water deeply so that plants are soaked for at least an hour each watering. 
  
  
  Only the roots need to be watered. Try to keep the water down on the ground and not on the leaves of the plants. Watering the leaves can cause fungal diseases. If you water the whole garden say with a sprinkler system, then weeds are more likely to flourish. But if you water only the roots of the vegetables you want to grow, then weeds have a smaller chance for survival because they are receiving less water. 
  
  
  How you water your garden is also important to think about. There are many options such as with a sprinkler system, a drip system, using soaker hoses, or using irrigation water. Some are more effective than others. Pick something that works for your garden, something that is cost effective for you.