Tips for Your Garden
Now that it’s warm out and the sun is shining, everyone is starting to put their vegetable gardens into the ground (or raised beds), with that in mind, I’ll give some tips on how to start your young plants correctly to give you a higher chance of success.
One of the biggest issues I see this time of year is vegetable seedlings and young plants with sunburn. Many times, plants are started inside and aren’t properly hardened before being placed outside. The leaves that are sunburned will become a grayish-white color where the chloroplasts have been fried. To prevent sun injury in young plants that were started indoors you should gradually move them outside into full sun. It’s also a good idea to use an oscillating fan on young plants before they go outside to help the stems strengthen.
When the seedlings are hardened off and ready to go outside you should make sure that the soil is ready for them. Loosen and amend the soil to avoid compaction which can negatively affect the roots of the young plants. Make sure the soil is moist but not soaking wet, you can water deeply a day before you plan to transplant. The hole you place the plants in should only be a little bigger than the root ball of the seedling. Once you place the plant in, refill the hole and gently tamp down the dirt to ensure good contact between the soil and the roots. Soak the soil around the seedlings to reduce risk of transplant shock. A few days after planting, give the seedlings a starter fertilizer, this will promote stronger root development and give you healthier plants. Make sure you keep the plants well-watered until they are well established, letting the soil dry out can be detrimental to young plants.
Once your plants are well established you can watch them grow and get ready for harvest. Be on the lookout for pests or diseases that can cause harm to your plants. If you would like more information on how to have a successful garden check out our website uaex.uada.edu or contact Saline County Extension Agent Nicole Nichols 501-303-5672 or nnichols@uada.edu.