PLANTING
Proper
planting technique affects the quality and quantity of your produce.
Check the soil before planting to be sure it is not too wet or dry. The
soil should moist but not muddy. Test the soil moisture by picking up a
handful of soil and squeezing it in your hand. Then, open your hand.
The soil should break into small clumps, but if it stays in a ball it is
too wet. If the soil is too wet, wait a day or two to let the soil dry
out. If the soil is too dry, water until the soil is moist enough for
planting.
SOIL
PREPARATION.
The
garden plot should be free of tall weeds and debris before preparing the
soil for planting. If the plot needs fertilizer, now is a good time to
apply. The best fertilizer is a combination of compost and garden
minerals, which can be found at the nursery or on the Internet. The
soil can be turned by shallow plowing, using a rototiller, or turning by
hand with a spade. After the soil has been turned, use a garden rake to
smooth out the soil and remove any remaining debris. After the garden
plot has been raked smooth it is ready for planting.
PLANTING ROW CROPS.
If you want straight rows, pound stakes at each end of the row and tie a
heavy string to each stake, stretching it tightly between the stakes.
For planting seeds, use a hoe or rake handle to make a furrow using the
string as a guide. Place the seeds in the furrow, cover with
proper amount of soil and lightly pat the soil down. When planting
plugs, bulbs, or slips use a hand tool to plant. Insert the tool
into the soil to desired depth and push to the side making enough room
to drop the start into the hole. Lightly water the plot after the
planting is complete.
PLANTING HILL CROPS.
If
straight rows are a concern, use the same technique as with row crops.
For potatoes put the plugs directly on the ground and use a garden rake
to pull the soil from each side of the row to bury the plug. When
planting sweet potato slips pull the soil from each side of the row to
form an elongated hill and plant the slip. To make single hills
rake soil from all around to form the hill. Plant the hill with
seeds or transplants. Lightly water the plot after the planting is
complete.
VEGETABLE
PLANTING GUIDE
|
VEGETABLE |
DEPTH |
BETWEEN PLANTS |
BETWEEN ROWS |
GROW TEMP |
TIME TO HARVEST |
|
ASPARAGUS |
1.5 in |
18 in |
2-3 ft |
0-80 f |
2nd yr |
|
BEAN,
BUSH |
1.5 in |
2-3 in |
2 ft |
60-75 f |
60 days |
|
BEAN,
POLE |
2-3 in |
4-6 in |
3-4 ft |
60-75 f |
60 days |
|
BEET |
.5 in |
2 in |
1.5 ft |
45-80 f |
60 days |
|
BLACK-EYE PEA |
.5 in |
2-3 in |
2-3 ft |
60-75 f |
90 days |
|
BROCCOLI |
.5 in |
18 in |
2-3 ft |
40-75 f |
100 days |
|
BRUSSEL SPROUT |
.5 in |
24 in |
2-3 ft |
20-65 f |
100 days |
|
CABBAGE |
.5 in |
18 in |
2-3 ft |
20-75 f |
125 days |
|
CANTALOUPE |
1 in |
4 ft |
6-8 ft |
65-105 f |
75 days |
|
CARROT |
.25 in |
1-2 in |
1-2 ft |
40-85 f |
75 days |
|
CAULIFLOWER |
.5 in |
2 ft |
2-3 ft |
30-75 f |
100 days |
|
CELERY |
.25 in |
6 in |
1-2 ft |
50-70 f |
120 days |
|
CHARD |
1 in |
4-8 in |
2 ft |
0-75 f |
60 days |
|
COLLARD |
.25 in |
4-8 in |
2 ft |
0-75 f |
75 days |
|
CORN |
2 in |
12 in |
2-3 ft |
60-80 f |
75 days |
|
CUCUMBER |
1 in |
6-8 in |
4-6 ft |
70-100 f |
60 days |
|
EGGPLANT |
.5 in |
24 in |
3-4 ft |
65-85 f |
75 days |
|
KALE |
.25 in |
6-8 in |
2 ft |
0-75 f |
65 days |
|
KOHLRABI |
.25 in |
3-4 in |
2 ft |
20-75 f |
60 days |
|
LETTUCE |
.5 in |
12 in
|
18 in |
10-80 f |
70 days |
|
MUSTARD |
.5 in
|
4-6 in |
18 in |
20-70 f |
50 days |
|
OKRA |
1 in |
18 in |
3 ft |
70-105 f |
60 days |
|
ONION
(SEED) |
.25 in |
4 in |
12 in |
45-90 f |
100 days |
|
PEA |
1-2 in |
2-3 in |
2-3 ft |
20-75 f |
65 days |
|
PEPPER |
.25 in |
24 in |
2-3 ft |
60-80 f |
70 days |
|
POTATO |
4 in |
12 in |
2-3 ft |
50-85 f |
90 days |
|
PUMPKIN |
1 in |
3 ft |
8-9 ft |
70-105 f |
100 days |
|
RADISH |
.5 in |
1-2 in |
12 in |
20-80 f |
30 days |
|
SPINACH |
.5 in |
4-8 in |
18 in |
20-70 f |
60 days |
|
SQUASH |
1 in |
3-4 ft |
4-6 ft |
60-105 f |
60 days |
|
SWEET
POTATO |
6 in |
18 in |
3-4 ft |
50-105 f |
125 days |
|
TOMATO |
.25 in |
2-3 ft |
3-4 ft |
40-90 f |
60 days |
|
TURNIP |
.5 in |
3 in |
1-2 ft |
20-90 f |
50 days |
|
WATERMELON |
1 in |
6-8 ft |
8-9 ft |
70-105 f |
90 days |
HERB
PLANTING GUIDE
|
HERB |
TYPE |
DEPTH |
BETWEEN PLANTS |
GROW TEMP |
TIME TO HARVEST |
|
ANISE |
ANNUAL |
.5 in |
3-4 in |
40-90 f |
120 days |
|
BASIL |
ANNUAL |
.5 in |
10 in |
40-90 f |
45 days
|
|
CARAWAY |
ANNUAL |
.5 in |
2-3 in |
40-90 f |
125 days
|
|
CARAWAY |
BIENNIAL |
.5 in |
2-3 in |
40-90 f |
2nd yr |
|
CHIVES |
PERENNIAL |
.25 in |
2-3 in |
30-80 f |
60 days |
|
DILL |
ANNUAL |
.25 in |
6-9 in |
40-90 f |
90 days |
|
DILL |
BIENNIAL |
.25 in |
6-9 in |
40-90 f |
2nd yr |
|
MARJORAM |
PERENNIAL |
.25 in |
5-7 in |
50-90 f |
60 days |
|
OREGANO |
PERENNIAL |
.25 in |
5-7 in |
40-85 f |
40-85 f |
|
PARSLEY |
BIENNIAL |
.25 in |
3-4 in |
30-105 f |
30 days |
|
PEPPERMINT |
PERENNIAL |
.25 in |
2-3 in |
30-105 f |
30 days |
|
ROSEMARY |
PERENNIAL |
.25 in |
1-2 ft |
40-90 f |
65 days |
|
SAGE |
PERENNIAL |
.25 in |
1-2 ft |
40-90 f |
60 days |
|
SPEARMINT |
PERENNIAL |
.25 in |
2-3 in |
30-105 f |
30 days |
|
SAVORY |
ANNUAL |
.25 in |
6-8 in |
40-90 f |
60 days |
|
TARRAGON |
PERENNIAL |
.25 in |
1-2 ft |
40-90 f |
90 days |
|
THYME |
PERENNIAL |
.25 in |
12 in |
40-90 f |
60 days |
 |
|
