Gardeners Anxiously Await Spring Planting

The pace of ringing telephones has quickened in recent days at the Roosevelt County Agricultural Extension Services Agency, Culbertson, as more people are getting anxious about getting in the garden. The unseasonably mild winter has many locals ready to get out and get planting.

“Everyone seems to be getting the itch to plant but at this time it is still a gamble. There is still time for Mother Nature to throw us a curve and then all of that effort would have been for nothing,” said Ann Ronning, Roosevelt County Extension agent.

So what should you be doing if you are one of the many who feel you are succumbing to your own green thumb? First, you should be getting your soil tested to find out what the nutrient levels are in your soil. By doing it now, you will have time to take the appropriate actions to amend the soil so you can get as many flowers and produce out of your garden as possible. To perform a soil test the best method is to dig down six to eight inches in varying places of the area intended to be planted. Consider taking samples in a “W” shape and getting the soil from each of the “points” of the “W”. Sathe Analytical Lab, Williston, will do soil testing if you request a nutrient test.

For those who can’t wait for the promise of guaranteed temperate weather, planting seeds and keeping them indoors is a good way to get started. Seeds of peppers, tomatoes and many other vegetation varieties can flourish before being transplanted, and you don’t have to get fancy either. Small paper cups, halves of milk cartons and even egg shells and egg cartons work fabulously. What’s nice about using egg shells is that once it’s time to transplant them you can lay them in the ground while they are still bedded in the shell. While the plants are still indoors it’s important to remember to keep them in a cool place, such as a basement because the cooler temperatures make them heartier. Heat will make them grow tall and lanky and more susceptible to temperature variations and other stresses. It equally important to ensure they are getting sunlight.

Also, seeds will keep for up to three years if stored in a cool, dry place.

Once in the garden it will be important to establish an ample supply of nutrient rich, mature compost. By mature, this means you can’t determine what it once was. As a rule, 100 lbs. of compost, which is about four to six, five gallon buckets weighing about 25 lbs. each, should be used for roughly 100 square feet of garden. It should mix within the top six to eight inches of soil layer.

Cold crops can be planted around the middle of May while warm weather crops usually are planted mid-June. “The key to success is the soil temperature. Once you have the appropriate sustained temperature for your soil, gardens will take off. By keeping plants watered and in the right amount of sunlight, they’ll grow quite easily,” Ronning added.

Cold crops such as peas, radishes and spinach will germinate at soil temperatures of about 40º or above while beans, beets, broccoli and carrots need temperatures of 60º or higher. Corn, melons, tomatoes and peppers need soil temperatures of 70º or above to germinate. If seeds are planted at soil temperatures below what is suggested, they can rot.

If you’re looking to increase your culinary expertise, consider growing your own gourmet herbs as annuals. Oregano, thyme, cilantro, tarragon, basil, sage and chives are all fairly hearty and a great addition to a less than exciting meal.

If you consider yourself to be something of a master gardener, you might want to test your skills this season by attempting to grow celery, Brussel sprouts, eggplant, garlic or watermelon. While they may be a bit fussier than most vegetation, they are easily as delectable. Watermelon is typically one of the most difficult to grow simply because of the vast amounts of water, sunlight and time it takes for them to mature.

For those of us with a small amount of space to devote to a garden, there’s good news. Square footage gardening is becoming popular. So, it seems you don’t have to be a farmer with acreage or even have a backyard these days to be a savvy, small space gardener. From innovative vertical garden systems to hanging pots, raised flower beds and tiny planters, homegrown produce is possible. A 3x3-foot area should provide ample space for a garden.

Raised bed planters are an optimal choice if soil is not fertile or has poor drainage. Using raised beds also minimizes the amount of stooping required for weeding and planting. Also, raised bed soil warms earlier than the surrounding ground.

For those with limited space it may be best to use shorter, bushier determinant plants because they grow, set their flowers and produce fruit one time. Indeterminant plants keep growing and producing more and more foliage, requiring more space for growth.

“You don’t need a lot of space to grow a garden. What you need is good soil, water and sunlight. Gardening is a very therapeutic way to spend some free time,” Ronning said.

It’s important to remember that you don’t have to use pesticides to kill pests. If you see a bug, pluck it off and if you can’t identify what type of bug it is, you should find out before taking action. Some bugs promote the health of a garden. Lady bugs can devour as many as 100 aphids a day which will help keep your leaves from being eaten by the tiny bug.

An interesting and old way of planting a garden is known as the Three Sisters. It offers a way to utilize garden space with a trio of vegetables that all work together and includes beans, corn and squash. Critters will find it harder to invade your garden by interplanting the three crops. The corn stalk serves as a pole for the bean, the beans help to add nitrogen to the soil that the corn needs and the squash provides a ground cover of shade that helps the soil retain moisture.