Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Keeping a journal of any problems you have had in your garden
this season will help you to plan for next season. You can use the
successes and failures as a jumping-off point for tackling problems in
future seasons.
Start with Healthy Soil
Having healthy, fertile garden soil is the best way to keep pests and
diseases away. First, find out what kind of soil you have and correct
any imbalances. Healthy soil will produce healthy vegetable plants.
Healthy vegetable plants will not be stressed and will be less vulner-
able to pests or diseases. Nutrient deficiencies, overwatering, and
underwatering can make your vegetable plants more susceptible to
pests and diseases.
If you till your soil when it is too wet or too dry, you can harm liv-
ing organisms and earthworms in the soil. You can also change the
soil structure, which can cause drainage problems, leaching of nutri-
ents, and an overall unhealthy space for your plant roots to grow.
Most gardeners are raring to go in the spring and want to get the
garden going, but it is important not to till too early. Take the mois-
ture test before you till in the spring. Squeeze a handful of soil. If it
forms a firm hard ball, it is too wet; if it crumbles into dust, it is too
dry. Soil that is just right will keep some shape but easily crumble
when you squeeze it.
Smoothie Garden Solution
Most vegetables do best in soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.9.
Brassicas, spinach, and lettuce like it to be on the higher side.
Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and most root crops can take the
