PLANTING A VEGETABLE GARDEN

AFTER A LONG WINTERS REST OUR RAISED BED NEEDS A WAKE UP CALL. WE ARE ADDING COMPOSTED MANURE,  FOR IT'S NUTRIENT RICH ORGANIC MATER, AND SPHAGNUM PEAT MOSS THAT WILL HELP HOLD MOISTURE AND IMPROVE THE SOIL STRUCTURE.  THE SOIL WILL NOT COMPACT AND WILL BE EASIER TO  PLANT.

ONCE THE SOIL AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE COMBINED USE YOUR FORK OR SPADE TO BREAK UP ANY LARGE CHUNKS. IT IS BEST TO WORK YOUR SOIL WHEN IT IS MOIST BUT NOT WET , IF THE SOIL IS TO WET YOU COULD GET HARD CHUNKS THAT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO BREAK UP.

WE ARE PLANTING SOME ITEMS FROM OUR ORNAMENTAL EDIBLE COLLECTION, INCLUDING SWISS CHARD, MUSTARD GREENS, BEETS, CHINESE CABBAGE AND RADICCO..

USING A TROWL OR YOUR HANDS DIG A HOLE AND AFTER GENTLY LOOSENING THE PLANT FROM THE PACK,  PLACE IT IN THE HOLE.  BRING THE SOIL BACK AROUND THE PLANT KEEPING IT SLIGHTLY  DEEPER THAN IT WAS IN ITS ORIGINAL CONTAINER AND FIRM THE SOIL  WITH YOUR HANDS.

PROPER DEPTH FOR A SWISS CHARD SEEDLING.

ONCE PLANTED WATER  AROUND THE PLANT WITH HOSE OR WATERING CAN. YOU CAN PLANT THE ENTIRE BED BEFORE YOU WATER, BUT DON;T PUT OFF WATERING FOR TO LONG. DO NOT SKIP THE WATERING EVEN IF IT COULD RAIN, AS DRY SOIL COULD TAKE WATER FROM THE NEWLY PLANTED SEEDLING. A FEW TIPS, DON'T BE AFRAID TO MIX VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS, THO I WOULD NOT COMBINE THEM WITH SAY, ROSES OR ANY INSECT PRONE PLANT THAT YOU WILL NEED TO USE INSECTICIDE ON. YOU CAN PLANT YOU VEGGIES IN ROWS, BUT I PREFER TO MIX THEM AS SOME WILL MATURE FASTER AND THEN WILL MAKE ROOM FOR SLOWER GROWING PLANTS.