News This Noon

The general rule of thumb is to prevent something from being outside until the possibility of frost is over. But if you live in an area where the annoying cold likes to persist, you may want to consider covering your plants with a cloth or using a cold frame to get them started earlier on the ground. These kinds of useful tips are mentioned in more detail below.

The first way to maximize garden space is to switch from traditional planting in rows to raised beds 3 or 4 feet wide. Individual rows of crops, while they can be efficient on farms that use large machines to plant, grow and harvest, are often not the best way to go into the backyard orchard. In a home-sized garden, the fewer rows you have, the fewer paths between rows you need, and the more square footage you have available to grow crops. When you start your first vegetable garden, take your time and watch the sun move through your garden.

Some plants, as mentioned, grow quickly and can be harvested more than once during a growing season. Or if you want to mix it, you can plant one or more of these plants in the spring and another in growing vegetables in raised beds the fall so as not to crowd out your plants if you insist on trying your luck growing more crops. All the root vegetables mentioned above, such as carrots, turnips and radishes are capable of this.

Many plants produce so quickly that they have to be harvested every other day. These include okra, rope beans, garden peas, cucumbers, summer squash and tomatoes. Daily visits to the garden ensure that vegetables are picked at the height of perfection and do not overripe or spoil on the plant, attracting insects or animal catchers.

Like all plants, vegetables need the sun to trigger photosynthesis. Fastest growing vegetables need full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight a day, without blocking trees, shrubs or fences. Therefore, you will not be very successful if you plant sun-loving vegetables in shady spaces. If your garden offers partial shade, plant vegetables and herbs that tolerate these conditions, such as lettuce, kale, Swiss chard, spinach, chives, coriander, parsley, and thyme. Root vegetables like carrots, radishes, and beets can also work if your site receives at least 4 hours of direct sunlight a day. Or if you have a sunny garden, switch to container gardening.

Keep cleaning the beds while harvesting the crops to make room for the new vegetables that will take their place. You can even mix crops that grow quickly alongside other vegetables that need a long season and sow their seeds together. This makes thinning the bed easier later, as you’ve already harvested the fast-growing crop, and given the long-season vegetables, it’s still a much-needed elbow room. Once the temperature stays above freezing, or if you have protection over your soil, dig a hole about twice the size of your seedling pot and set it out for mature plants.