Getting Ready to Garden – An Easy Start
Havenʼt gardened much before ? Do you want your kids to enjoy the thrill of growing things ? Start simply and get tasty results . Most cool-weather vegetables , which you can plant in late winter or early spring , will grow well in pots , tubs , or any container that holds at least 6-8 inches deep of soil .
If you have old pots of dirt , where plants have grown in the past , the dirt is probably exhausted . Itʼs best to refill the pots with a rich mix of soil and compost . Our Arizona desert soil is not very nourishing - if you choose to use it , create a mixture of at least half compost with the soil .
Make sure whatever containers youʼre using have holes in the bottom to allow excess water to drain out . If the drainage holes are so big that the dirt falls out , put a paper coffee filter in the bottom of the pots to block the holes .
Buy some seeds and plant according to the package directions . Early spring plants that give quick results are radishes , kale , and leaf lettuces . Cilantro and dill will also do well . Different seeds have different planting requirements , so do read the packet instructions . Plant the seeds , then water well .
Once planted , set the pots in a sunny location . An ideal site in March-May would be a south-facing spot , close to a building . The southern exposure will give the plants lots of sun . Setting the pots close to a building will give them some protection from cold nights , strong winds , and drenching rains .
Watch and keep the soil moist but not soaking wet . Water gently , using a sprinkler . I made a sprinkle bottle by poking holes in the top of a plastic drink bottle . This way I can gently sprinkle the soil ( and later sprouts ) without washing them out .
You donʼt want the sprouts to undergo a long freeze ( i . e . multiple days of freezing ) , but most cool-weather plants will tolerate overnight freezing temperatures , as long as they get a long warming dose of sun during the day . If it stays consistently cold , their growth may be slowed .
Should you grow vegetables or flowers ? Do both ! Flowers will not only add beauty , but attract and support creatures that are good for your vegetables , like bees and butterflies . Nasturtiums and calendula are good options-and their flowers are edible !
Note that the south-facing location will become too hot as our weather warms up . The cool-weather plants will need some protection from the heat . Move pots to a semi-shaded location at the edge of a tree , or to the east side of the building where they get sun through 1 or 2 pm , but are protected from the hot afternoon sun . Generally 6 hours of sun will be enough for these cool-weather plants .
By Kristin J ., PCC Resident
24 April 2017 pccnews