Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
lower end. Squash, peas, beans, and onions prefer the pH to be
right around 6.5.
Tilling or digging your soil in the fall will expose insects, larvae,
and eggs to the elements, which can help destroy them. After you
harvest an area you are going to leave bare, dig it up and let it sit
for a week or so. Then either mulch the area or plant a green
manure. Mulch will help keep the soil from getting too wet and will
prevent leaching if you live in a rainy climate. On the flip side, mulch
can also be a haven for pests such as slugs and can encourage mold
and disease, so regularly check under the mulch for any larvae or
eggs during the winter and spring.
Growing green manures is another way to keep your soil healthy.
They are grown in the fall and help keep the soil from being blown
away by the wind. Green manures also prevent erosion and leaching
of nutrients. They are tilled under in the spring, which adds organic
matter and nutrients to the soil, making it more fertile and healthier.
Good Gardening Practices
Maintaining a clean vegetable garden will go a long way in keeping it
free of pests and disease. Trash, garden debris, and diseased plants
can be a haven for many pests and diseases. Remove weeds from
the garden after they are pulled out. They can be put in the compost
bin or the trash if they have gone to seed. If you have any diseased
vegetable plants, make sure you put them into a garbage bag imme-
diately after pulling them so you don't spread the problem into other
areas of your veggie garden.
If you find any pests, kill them on the spot by squishing them with
your shoe or between your fingers. A good way to kill slugs is to cut
them in half with your shovel. If you just place a pest on the ground
