There are several reasons to mulch your Vegetable Gardens. Mulching is beneficial for the soil because it lowers the temperature, protects the vegetables from weeds, and reduces the watering requirements. Different types of mulch raise and lower the temperature of the soil. Natural mulches reduce soil temperature, while plastic mulches raise the temperature. Regardless of whether you use plastic mulches or natural mulches, they will protect the soil from harmful elements.
Vegetables can be grown for many purposes, including fresh vegetables. The vegetables you grow will depend on your family’s budget, resources, and preferences. Some vegetables will require more maintenance than others, and some varieties may require more time. Also, consider your space. If you have a large area, you may want to invest in motorized equipment for turning the soil between seasons. Smaller gardens may be easy to manage with hand tools. Simple hand-pushed planters can be sufficient if you are working with limited space.
Select a location that receives adequate sunlight. Choosing a site that gets six hours of direct sunlight each day is best for most vegetables. However, some vegetables do best in partial shade, so try to pick an area without any large trees or shrubs. For best results, choose a sunny area with good drainage. After deciding on a site, measure it and sketch out a garden plan. You can add to it as you go.
If you do not plan to harvest the vegetables in your Vegetable Gardens, you may want to plant a cover crop in the winter. This will protect the soil from the winter months and keep the soil from being eroded. Oats can be purchased from most feed stores. Oats are best planted between early August and mid-September as they will reach their full growth during the fall. If you don’t plan to harvest the vegetables during these months, then you should consider growing oats instead.
Many plants in the Solonaceae family are edible. Some of these include potatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Fortunately, they are also resistant to many pests. MU Extension publications can give you a great starting point for your vegetable garden. You can find a number of useful tips in their publications, including information on how to treat common vegetable pests and diseases. You can also check out seed packets and seed catalogs to find out more about specific plants.
It is important to note that legume crops need a good soil to grow well. It should be well-drained and deep and have adequate amounts of major nutrients like phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sulfur, and magnesium. The pH level should be 6.0 to 6.8. It should also have a five percent organic matter content. Soil amendments may be necessary to achieve these requirements. If you can’t manage to grow the vegetables in this soil, you might want to consider a more intensive approach.
Warm-season vegetables are also great for gardeners in the middle of the country. Heat-tolerant tomatoes, for example, can be planted in July for a fall harvest. Although most warm-season vegetables are meant to be harvested before frost, you can leave them on the vine until the last minute before the frost. If you are worried that the frost will kill the plants, you can pick them green and store them in newsprint or paper bags at a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In mid-August, snap beans can be seeded.