How to Plant an EdiblE Garden IN 10 STEPS OR LESS BY K. LYNN TOOTLE AND BRENT KELLY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 1329 HEIDT AVENUE. SAVANNAH, GA 31408 PHONE: 912-966-7391 [ 1 ] TIDEWATERUSA.COM 912-966-7391 CUSTOMER@TIDEWATERUSA.COM
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CONTENTS STEP 1: Introduction to Gardening Preparing your Garden Bed STEP 2: STEP 3: Plan your Garden STEP 4: Reading your STEP 6: Early Spring STEP 8: Gathering Plant Labels & Planting your growing your The Start of your plants Seed Packets seeds and cold season Summer plants crops STEP 5: STEP 7: STEP 9: Harvest and bugs The next year STEP 10:
step #1 Introduction TO GARDENING START SMALL Starting small allows you to be proud of your garden, tending to needs rather than exhausting yourself with weeding and pruning through the seasons. There are three simple rules to a good garden. THE RIGHT SPOT if you dream of growing tomatoes, squash, peppers or other fruit bearing plants, a full-sun location is best. Vegetable plants love sun; they prefer at least 6 hours of bright direct sunlight per day. PRO TIP: IF YOUR if your GARDEN garden AREA area ONLY only GETS gets PARTIAL partial SUN sun THAT S that s OKAY! okay! choose leafy plants like spinach and kale which thrive in shady areas. PRO TIP THE RIGHT WATER learning how much water your garden needs is vital. Your garden soil should be moist, but it shouldn t stick to your shoes or shovel. Soil that crumbles when formed into a ball is ideal for root growth. THE RIGHT SOIL not all dirt is created equal, the right soil will make the difference between a modest and an outstanding crop. Most ground soil will be lacking nutrients and needs to be modified to grow plants optimally. If modifying your soil, start with quality peat moss and organic manure both are excellent for plants and will increase fertility of the soil naturally. PRO TIP TEST YOUR SOIL FOR MISSING NUTRIENTS BEFORE PLANTING, SAMPLES CAN BE SENT TO LOCAL COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICES OR TESTING KITS CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE OR AT HARDWARE STORES AND NURSERIES USUALLY FOR
step #1 Introduction TO GARDENING (continued) What to buy Gardening can be a very affordable way to grow your family s food. Your local gardening center is bursting with tools, soil additives and other gadgets to help your garden bloom though to start you ll really just need the basics: A trowel Mulch A shovel Seeds and/or plants Sand Organic fertilizer like compost, manure or peat moss
Preparing step #2 YOUR GARDEN BED There are many options when it comes to garden bed types: in-ground, raised beds, containers, etc. Each has its benefits and challenges, work with the space you have available. As long as you treat your plants well and they have enough room to grow, they can thrive in any type of garden. PRO TIP IF IT CAN BE EASILY SQUEEZED INTO A BALL OR STICKS TO THE END OF A TOOL, THE DIRT IS TOO WET - WAIT A WEEK. [ 6 ] TIDEWATERUSA.COM 912-966-7391 CUSTOMER@TIDEWATERUSA.COM
Things You Need To Do To Get started! step #2 (continued) After the last frost you can prep your soil. For in-ground beds, the dirt should be dry and easy to work. Begin by lifting the first few inches of dirt and then dig in with your shovel as far as two feet below the surface. The goal is to break down any large clumps, a tiller will be helpful if your garden is large. Remove any grass, rocks and other debris. Once tilled, follow these steps for creating the perfect garden bed: 1 Mix fertilizer and sand into your existing topsoil, reserving some topsoil for the next step. If your soil is heavy and full of clumps you ll want to include more peat moss and sand into your bed. Mix well until your soil is even throughout the bed. 2 Lay down the remaining topsoil over the mixture if the bed is raising above the surrounding area that s fine, you can control the spillage with spare wood or bricks or place the extra topsoil in your compost. 3 Lightly mulch your bed with wood chips, bark, straw or hay. You ll want to be able to remove the mulch when you plant certain varieties but for now the mulch will keep the soil from blowing away [7] T I D E WAT E RU S A.CO M 9 1 2-9 6 6-7 3 9 1 C U S TO M E R @T I D E WAT E RU S A.CO M CO PY R I G H T 2 0 1 5
Plan step #3 YOUR GARDEN ONE OF THE GREATEST JOYS OF PLANTING YOUR OWN GARDEN IS THAT YOU GET TO GROW WHATEVER YOU LIKE. BEGIN BY LISTING THE VEGETABLES YOUR HOUSEHOLD EATS FREQUENTLY AND CONSIDER ADDING A FEW THAT YOU MAY NOT BE TOO FAMILIAR WITH BUT ARE INDIGENOUS TO THE AREA. PRO TIP ESPECIALLY FOR NEW GARDENERS, IT IS TEMPTING TO PACK AS MANY PLANTS IN YOUR GARDEN AS POSSIBLE BUT RESIST THIS URGE, PLANTS NEED THEIR SPACE AND OVERCROWDING WILL ACTUALLY RESULT IN LESS PRODUCTION. [ 8 ] TIDEWATERUSA.COM 912-966-7391 CUSTOMER@TIDEWATERUSA.COM
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT kerry shay - VICTORY GARDENS OF SAVANNAH, GA Many garden vegetables like tomatoes, squash, and beans require pollination in order to produce fruit. Save a portion of your garden for planting wildflowers and other pollinator attracting plants in order to make sure that you get the proper pollination.
Use This Handy Chart step #3 (continued) To Determine How Much space your favorite vegetable plants need VEGETABLE SPACING VEGETABLE SPACING Artichoke 4 feet Eggplant 2 plants per 3 feet Arugula 16 plants per foot Kale 1 foot Asparagus 2 feet Kohlrabi 4 plants per foot Beans 2 plants per 3 feet Lettuce 2-4 plants per foot Beet 4 plants per foot Okra 4 feet Broccoli 1 foot Parsnip 4 plants per foot Brussels sprouts 2 feet Peppers 2 feet Onion 16 plants per foot Pumpkin 6 feet Cabbage 2 feet Radish 9 per foot Carrot 16 plants per foot Spinach 2-4 per foot Cauliflower 1 foot Squash 2 feet Celery 1 foot Tomato 2 feet Cucumber 2 feet Turnip 8 per foot Plants grow quickly and you ll need at least a few inches between them to trim, water and harvest. If you re running out of space in your garden, consider planting larger varieties in containers. Peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, squash and lettuces all perform just as well in large pots as they do in the ground. [ 10 ] TIDEWATERUSA.COM 912-966-7391 CUSTOMER@TIDEWATERUSA.COM
Gathering step #4 YOUR PLANTS NOW THAT THE SPRING TEMPERATURES ARE RISING YOU RE READY TO BEGIN; TIME TO DECIDE HOW YOU LL SOW YOUR SEEDS. THERE ARE THREE POPULAR WAYS TO PLANT: Seedlings: - these are small starter plants you ll purchase from your local greenhouse, nursery or garden center. They can be purchased at any time in the season and will plant directly in your garden. Seedlings are a great option for new gardeners or those with a small amount of space indoors. You ll also want to consider seedlings if you have a very short growing season. Indoor/Greenhouse Start: if you have spare counter space in a sunny area and a touch of patience, you may try starting your seedlings indoors. It s a good idea to start plants 4-6 weeks before you ll be ready to plant. Direct Sow: some plants like carrots, lettuce, spinach, corn, beans and any other early crops thrive when sown directly into your garden beds. It will take more time and you won t know for a while if they re growing but once they pop out of the soil you ll feel a little extra sense of accomplishment. REMEMBER there s nothing wrong with growing your first garden from purchased plants. They ll give you a running start to a great garden season. [ 11 ] TIDEWATERUSA.COM 912-966-7391 CUSTOMER@TIDEWATERUSA.COM
Reading Your step #5 plant labels & Seed packets If purchasing seedlings, make sure the plant comes with a plant label. If the label has fallen off, select a different plant of ask for a new label. Your plant label is critical to understanding the conditions your plant needs to thrive. Since vegetable varieties can vary greatly you ll need to know the specific conditions for your exact plant. DETERMINATE produces all of its fruit within a short period (typically 1-2 weeks) FULL SUN needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to thrive HARDY needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to thrive HEIRLOOM a non-hybrid unchanged for at least 50 years, seeds collected will produce new, healthy, productive offspring HYBRID a crossbreed of two varieties, seeds collected will not produce productive offspring ORNAMENTAL plants that do not produce edible fruit SELF-POLLINATING plants that do not need multiple plants to pollinate INDETERMINATE produces fruit until killed [ 12 ] TIDEWATERUSA.COM 912-966-7391 CUSTOMER@TIDEWATERUSA.COM
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT WHILE ALL OF THE INFORMATION ON THE PLANT LABELS AND SEED PACKETS ARE IMPORTANT, THE FOLLOWING IS MOST VITAL: PLANT NAME The label should list the exact species of plant you have. This name may be in a household or scientific format either of which will allow you to use databases, books or the internet to find more information about your plant. PLANT DESCRIPTION Typically contains the maximum height, yield, flowering type and harvest times. This information is a great resource to get to know how your plant will grow. SUN TYPE Shown by either a picture or a description, the sun information will be needed to know where in your garden to place your plant. PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS Typically contains the planting time, soil depth and the planting distance. Some plant tags have more information than others; remember, as long as the tag contains the full name of your plant you can always seek the information you need elsewhere. there s nothing wrong with growing your first garden from purchased plants. They ll give you a running start to a great garden season.
Reading Your step #5 (continued) plant labels & Seed packets CORRECTLY READING YOUR NEW SEED PACKETS IN A CRUCIAL STEP IN GROWING HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE PLANTS. HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR SPECIFIC PLANTS: Plant Hardy Root Crops: For your root crops and plants you plan to direct sow, look for varieties that are hardy so they may survive any late freezes. Choose Disease Resistance Plants: Search for varieties that have a form of disease resistance - blight, mildew, mold and fungus can cause a large amount of damage in susceptible plants. Year Round Havest: If you plan to harvest from your plants yearround you ll want to choose plants that are indeterminate. Determinate plants will come to harvest only once. [ 14 ] TIDEWATERUSA.COM 912-966-7391 CUSTOMER@TIDEWATERUSA.COM
Planting Your step #6 SEEDS & PLANTS Follow the instructions given on the packets or labels in order to give your garden the greatest opportunity to become full with healthy, productive plants. STEP 1: Dig a hole about twice the size of the plant to the lowest depth provided in the instructions. Place the plant or seed into the dirt and then lightly pack the dirt into the area. STEP 2: Measure carefully the distance needed for the next plant. The distance may seem like an exaggeration but root systems can be large and need space to grow. STEP 3: Don t throw away spare plants if you run out of room; pot them in containers or keep them for a week before giving them away. Sometimes plants react poorly to being transplanted and need to be replaced. STEP 4: Lightly water the area taking great care to not waterlog the new plants. Keep them moist for the first week then water as needed, up to an inch per week. PRO TIP Be careful not to mound the dirt over young plants however older plants won t mind the additional soil. Don t ignore Mother Nature - if it rains, scale back your watering schedule that week; if it really heats up, give them an extra drink. Also, watering is best done in the morning before the hot sun rises. [ 15 ] TIDEWATERUSA.COM 912-966-7391 CUSTOMER@TIDEWATERUSA.COM
Early Spring step #7 GROWING YOUR COLD SEASON CROPS ALL PLANTS THAT RECOMMEND A PLANTING DATE BEFORE MAY ARE COLD SEASON HOWEVER MOST BEGINNERS START WITH CARROTS, BEANS, ONIONS, LETTUCE AND SPINACH. ALL WILL GROW BEAUTIFULLY IN NEAT ROWS OR SOWN NATURALLY BY GENTLY SCATTERING THE SEEDS IN A SMALL AREA. TO ENSURE THEIR BEST GROWTH FOLLOW THESE TIPS: 1 Sow your seeds just under the surface of the soil. Most early seeds require a depth of ¼ inch or less. Water your seeds carefully you may opt to use a spray bottle to gently mist the small seeds. 2 Protect your seeds from frost by covering the bed with blankets or plastic during cold nights. Cover your bed with a tarp during heavy rains, hail, snow or sleet. Small tender plants can be significantly damaged by something as seemingly innocuous as rain drops. 3 Weed out small plants. When your tender seedlings begin to grow, pull plants that are closer than the recommended distance opting for the smallest, most damaged or loosest plants. Continue to weed out poor performers to allow nutrients to get to the best plants. 4 Generally within 4 weeks of planting you ll be able to begin harvesting. Choose every other plant to give remaining varieties more room to grow. some cold weather plants won t grow in the hot summer months. when they begin to perform poorly remove them and replace them with more hot-house plants. [ 16 ] T I D E WAT E RU S A.CO M 9 1 2-9 6 6-7 3 9 1 C U S TO M E R @T I D E WAT E RU S A.CO M CO PY R I G H T 2 0 1 5
The Start OF SUMMER step #8 The end of spring heralds many activities, none more exciting to a gardener than planting their hot-house plants. While your cold weather plants have thrived during the cool spring days and you ve been rewarded with an excellent spring harvest, certain plants like tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers have remained indoors. Once the threat of frost is gone, night temperature averages are above 50 degrees and the ground is warm, these plants can be transplanted into your garden. Planting too soon will cause the plants to be stunted and underperform. Hardening off Your plants are delicate, they ve had a pretty easy life growing indoors so far. Two weeks before you plant your seedlings, move them outside on a warm day into a sheltered area for a few hours they shouldn t have sun shining directly on them. Repeat for 2-3 days, then move the plants into full sun for a few hours for 2-3 more days. During this time you ll want to bring the plants indoors during harsh weather or strong winds. The second week place the plants outdoors as much as possible up to 8 hours a day. You want the plants used to the wind, sun, rain and elements before planting them in the ground. [ 17 ] TIDEWATERUSA.COM 912-966-7391 CUSTOMER@TIDEWATERUSA.COM
The Start OF SUMMER PLANTING step #8 (continued) TOMATOES Tomatoes are strange plants, they actually enjoy being buried alive if you look closely at the stem you ll see small white hairs, these will become roots when you bury the plant. To encourage great tomato plants, bury up to half the plant in the dirt to allow the tomato to develop an outstanding root system. EVERYTHING ELSE Plant according to the package or tag description, making sure not to plant too deeply or have roots exposed to the air. When you dig up your soil, check for pests like grubs, slugs, snails, ants and larva - if you see these, treat the soil with a pesticide or remove the bugs before planting the seedlings in the soil. If you ve given your plants nutritious soil and a good start they ll reward you with amazing growth. Enjoy your month of June and July with only light maintenance. Here are some things to do during this time: Keep an eye for pests Water when needed Protect your plants from hail storms with tarps Use sticks and poles to support large plants Pull weeds from the bed The Growing Season [ 18 ] TIDEWATERUSA.COM 912-966-7391 CUSTOMER@TIDEWATERUSA.COM
HARVEST & BUGS step #9 EVERYONE LOVES HARVEST TIME When the tomatoes are slowly turning red, the squash is as big as your arm and the cucumbers reappear every day. During the late summer months your garden is in overdrive as it provides delicious and nutritious produce for your family. Here s what you need to know to bring in the best harvest. RIPENING INDOORS By harvesting just a few days before they re ripe and allowing your produce to ripen indoor, you can avoid losing part of your harvest. It s an especially good option if you are suffering from pest control problems. With a large quantity of one vegetable picked at once, you can also make batches of soups, stews, and sauces or preserve some of the pick by canning or freezing them. DEPENDING ON YOUR GARDEN, PLANTS YOU VE CHOSEN AND OTHER FACTORS, THERE ARE TWO VIABLE OPTIONS FOR HARVESTING YOUR PRODUCE VINE RIPENED Picking your fruits and vegetables at the peak of their ripening is the best way to get the most nutrients from your food. That being the case, you may not be the only one with their eye on the fruits of your labors. Bugs, birds and neighbors may steal your work before you can enjoy it. [ 19 ] TIDEWATERUSA.COM 912-966-7391 CUSTOMER@TIDEWATERUSA.COM
ONCE THE FOOD ARRIVES THE PESTS WON T BE FAR BE- HIND. TEND TO YOUR GARDEN EVERY DAY TO REMOVE POTENTIAL ATTACKERS. REMEMBER THERE ARE BOTH BENEFICIAL AND HARMFUL CRITTERS; HERE S A HANDY GUIDE: APHIDS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT PESTS PESTS CATERPILLARS BEETLES These tiny grey fly-like insects feed by drinking your plant s sap, causing leaf damage. Deal with them by washing the leaves and spraying a pest deterrent. These white worm-like creatures are friends to no one, they ll grow into adult flies so you ll want to kill all any you find with pesticides. If you ve never gardened before you probably don t mind caterpillars however these hungry critters can destroy entire crops within a day and should always be picked off. These pests will eat your plants leaves, effectively killing your plant. Picking them off and applying a cover will protect your harvest. LADY BUGS GROUND BEETLES These delightful bugs will eat larva, mites and aphids. helpful LACEWINGS PRAYING MANTIS These beetles will attack maggots, snails and slugs. SPIDERS SNAKES They enjoy dining on caterpillars, aphids and whiteflies. Welcome any of these stunning bugs, they ll enjoy feasting on your garden pests. While they may seem creepy, spiders feast on a host of bugs and cause no harm to your garden. Feasting on large bugs, mice and other dangerous critters, native snakes belong in your garden.
THE NEXT YEAR step #10 After the leaves begin to drop your harvest will begin to wane. Take this time to cut down the plants you once cared for. Transfer the plants into a compost pile and add the mulch from that year. Turn the compost before recovering and sealing tightly. Once finished, amend the soil with a light solid fertilizer before covering with a tarp for the next year. any plants you ve planted in containers can be brought indoors before the cold weather sets in for an extended harvest. [ 21 ] TIDEWATERUSA.COM 912-966-7391 CUSTOMER@TIDEWATERUSA.COM
Meet THE Authors COPYRIGHT How to Plant an EdiblE Garden IN 10 STEPS OR LESS BY K. LYNN TOOTLE AND BRENT KELLY 2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. K. Lynn Tootle K. Lynn Tootle is the General Manager of GroMasters Inc., a division of TideWater Landscape Management Inc. Lynn is a certified arborist and turf grass professional, a past president of the Coastal Landscape and Turf Professional Association and a graduate of the Urban Ag Leadership program. He graduated from Clemson University in 1999 with a BS in Wildlife Biology and a minor in Forest Resources. Brent Kelly Brent Kelly holds certifications as a Landscape Professional, Landscape Technician, Installer of Interlocking Pavement as well as Pest Control. [ 22 ] TIDEWATERUSA.COM 912-966-7391 CUSTOMER@TIDEWATERUSA.COM
20%OFF 20% OFF YOUR FIRST APPLICATION OF FERTILIZER AND PEST AND WEED CONTROL CALL 912-966-7391 TO ARRANGE YOUR FIRST VISIT