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Sunday, April 16, 2006

Gardening Tip: Getting A Jump On Spring

Gardening Tip

Try these ideas to get a head start on your spring garden.

Try wintering over a late planting of lettuce by covering it with a
foot of loose hay. This also works for other crops such as greens
and parsley, but the flavor will be stronger.


In areas where the ground stays frozen all winter, try planting a
crop of peas after the ground has frozen. You'll get a big jump on
the next growing season.


To warm the soil more quickly, cover the ground with clear plastic.


Many plants can be started indoors from seeds, then transplanted
to the garden when the soil warms. Some plants that start easily
from seeds are cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and
lettuce. Some other plants are more difficult to start from seeds.
They require just the right amount of sunlight and water, as well as a
warm environment. These include peppers, eggplants, tomatoes,
celery, petunias and begonias just to name a few. Find out more in
Starting Plants from Seed.


Hotbeds and coldframes are great season extenders. Oregon State
University Extension Service has an excellent article on Constructing
Coldframes and Hotbeds available online in Acrobat Reader format.


Hot caps act as little greenhouses for tender young plants. They can
be purchased at your garden supply store, or you can make your own
from gallon milk jugs. Cut the bottom from the milk jug, and anchor it
firmly to the ground over your plant. Leave the lid off to allow air to
circulate.


This Gardening Tip is brought to you by ChamomileTimes.com

Gardening Tip: Prepare Your Soil for Spring Planting

Gardening Tip

Miracle-Gro:

Whether you're planting a whole new landscape bed, a single shrub,
or a flat of annuals, properly preparing the soil will help your plants
grow faster, stronger, and healthier. You can begin improving your
soil as soon as it's workable in spring. (Quick test: Your soil is workable
when a handful of soil doesn't stick together in a clump.)

Add Organic Materials to the Soil

Organic matter breaks up clay soil, adds substance to sandy
soil, and provides the porosity that's needed to encourage your
plants' root systems. You can't have a healthy plant without a
good root system, and soil with proper porosity will:

- Make more oxygen available to plants' roots
- Reduce runoff compared to hard, crusty soil
- Allow more water and nutrients to reach the roots
- Encourage roots to spread out and develop into a sturdy
underground network

How to Do It

Add organic materials by spreading them over the top of a
bed, then turning or tilling them in—or by mixing them with
soil removed from planting holes before backfilling around transplants.

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This gardening tip is brought to you by Miracle Gro

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