It is time to start your vegetable garden!
As our last average frost date comes closer, we are eager to get outside and get our hands dirty. It is finally time to plant your vegetable garden, and Pine Lane is excited to help you along the way!
This is the perfect week to start planting cool season vegetables. These include beets, carrots, potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, onions, peas, and radishes.
After the last freeze date for your area, you are welcome to plant warmer season vegetables. These include crops such as beans, corn, cucumbers, melons, peppers, tomatoes, pumpkins and squash.
First things first, you will need to prep your soil!
1. Test your soil- pick up a soil testing kit from Pine Lane and send your sample off to CSU. Let them know you will be using the area for vegetable gardening, and they will let you know what, if anything, you need to add to the soil to alter the pH.
2. Next, you will need to add organic matter to the soil for added nutrients and aeration. We recommend organic compost, such as Sheep and Peat.
3. This is also a good time to add an all-purpose fertilizer to the soil. Something like organic BioSol works great!
Now you will need to till the soil in order to aerate the soil and spread the compost and fertilizer.
This is best done when the soil is relatively dry. Till 10-12 inches deep.
Next plan your space:
1. Check seed packs and starter plants to find out how far apart they will need to be planted.
2. Plant taller crops in the north side of the garden.
3. Keep in mind some plants do best in rows, while others do best in mounds.
4. Plan your space accordingly before you start planting to ease the process!
Now it is time to plant!
1. Pay special attention to the details on each seed packet- they are all different! Each seed pack will specify how deep to plant the seeds and how far apart to plant each row and seed.
2. Use a garden ho to create your troughs to plant each row.
3. Drop the seeds as specified and cover them with soil.
Make sure to label where each row and crop is!
This will be super helpful for navigating the space while you plant and for the first few weeks of weeding to know where your plants are.
Water your seeds!
It is ideal to water at the level of the roots, not the foliage. Drip irrigation is best.
Don’t forget to incorporate starter vegetables and herbs, such as peppers, tomatoes, and basil into your garden design. Just make sure to keep in mind the last freeze date in Parker (approximately May 18th)!
You are well on your way to a lush vegetable garden!
Pine Lane Nursery offers a wide variety of organic compost, fertilizer, and seeds.
We also carry starter plants of veggies, herbs and small fruits.
And do not forget your potato and onion sets!
Happy Planting!
