Gardening Tips

Beti's Top Ten Gardening Tips

10. Simple is good. 

A simple garden that has historic beginning in our country is good for all vegetable gardeners.  Three Sisters Garden contain small mounds of soil planted with corn surrounded by beans that fix the nitrogen in the soil for the corn plants to utilize.  The pole beans climb the corn stalks.  Winter squash seeds or pumpkins are planted in-between the mounds to control and shade out the weeds that might overtake the corn and beans later in the growing season.

Before you receive or buy a plant, have a home for it already planned and possibly already prepared. 

Start out with a simple plan that allows you to grow and expand.

9.  Balance with nature. 

Remember that insects dominate the world; not humans.  It is important to recognize naturally occurring insect predators and parasites. 

Before making insecticide applications, check plants for existing beneficial organisms.  Their abundance may be enough to provide control.  When possible, use insecticides that are selective in their activity. 

Ladybugs, spiders, tachinid flies, some wasps, bees, ground beetles, and lacewings are most beneficial to the gardener.  The praying mantis is both a good bug and a bad bug because it will eat all bugs; even other praying mantis if nothing else is available.  There are actions you can take to increase the balance with nature.

I personally recommend spraying fish fertilizer on all plant leaves that are bothered by insects and animals.  It deters them but must reapply after rains.  I also check for bugs regularly and pick off unwanted ones.  I plant extra for those plants that will be attacked no matter what I do like corn and melons.  Some plants I just don’t plant at all anymore such as cabbage because the effort to remove worms exceeds my desire for coleslaw.  Anyway supporting local Farmer's Markets is a good thing as you don't have to grow everything…choose your battles!

8.  Location is important. 


Most vegetables require full sun all day.  Watch the sun’s rising and setting positions in the sky for summer months and position your gardens so the plants will follow the sun.  South side of a hill is good because of water drainage and sun exposure. 

Terraced raised gardens on steep southern slope follow the sun as viewed from my carport

Low-lying areas typically have good soil but poor drainage and flooding potential as well as getting frost bit sooner.  Maximize your full sun areas. Most annuals and vegetables need full sun.

7.  Be a good steward.

Your gardens are a small part of a larger environment that includes aesthetic values and responsible environmental ethics.  Be a good neighbor and have attractive and useful plants in your yard that invite local butterflies, songbirds, good bugs, frogs, and non-harmful critters.  Consider native plants.

Native plants are very adapted to our area and have low maintenance once they are established.  Like perennials, you must be patient as it may take up to 3 years for them to be at their best. 

6.  Keep a gardening journal. 

Compare your notes with previous years so you don’t make the same mistake twice.  Record your gardening thoughts and feelings too.  Keep a sense of humor...  
Husband: "Are you planning to make a huge salad for company coming?"  Me:  "Yes, but we have plenty in the refrigerator for that and the whole week."
Husband:  "Why then did you cut all the Romaine heads remaining in the garden?"
Me:  "I thought you did that."  There were deer tracks all over.  We planted more seeds and I re-sprayed fish fertilizer all over as it had rained the night before.

Deer salad

5.  Consider companion planting. 

Decide what plants you want and research their needs.  I’ve had great success with planting marigold flowers in rows around my gardens to deter insects and deer.  

Marigolds planted around tomatoes in 2013

An available website called Garden Planner can help you put all your data together and suggests companion plants.  It is provided in the Useful Sources handout.

I have gardened intuitively for many years.  I keep minimal notes because I have done this for 40 years.  But I do write down new things that I do and probably should write more and not depend on my memory.  This year my husband has become a Master Gardener online and found Garden Planner online which organizes and helps you plan your gardens.  He is having a lot of fun with it. 

So I will probably continue to garden intuitively guided by the Garden Planner suggestions for companion plants and rotation but  enter the new data and names from now on.  This can also serve as a journal.  You can also see what other gardeners are doing in your area that are also using the program.

4.  Choose good sources for your seeds and plants. 

Local greenhouses and other gardeners in your area should be considered first.  The best way to know good sources is to experience them for yourself.  Know a safe seed source and make the best choices for yourself.

 Always buy for your growing zone.  Hickory County is Zone 6a and 6b.  Check your local extension office for your plant hardiness zone.  

3.  Water regularly. 

Know the watering needs for your particular plant groups.  Most plants need about 1” of water per week in 1-2 applications.  Usually apply evenings or early mornings to reduce evaporation.  Consider trickle or drip irrigation.  Add mulch early in the growing season. It would be great if you can set up a rain barrel to some drip hoses that are placed throughout you gardens. 

It may be that a rain barrel can only take care of one smaller area.  Rain water is the best.  Treated municipal water is not the best water for plants, especially vegetables.  You can fill a barrel or buckets and let sit in open air for 24 hours.  This will allow chlorine to dissipate before using.  

2.  Soil type, texture, and condition are important. 

Most vegetables and flowers prefer rich soil.  Clay tends to crust or form cracks as it dries.  Rocky soils are shallow for root growth and sandy soils dry out quickly.  River bottom soil is very good and is worth hauling in and placed in raised beds.  All soils can be improved by adding compost and organic mulches.  Have soil tested through your local Extension Office.

The most simple approach would be to buy a bag of soil, put it where the sun shines, cut it open lengthwise and poke some drain holes on the bottom.  You have made a basic container.  Just put in your plants and cover everything but the plant in mulch and water as needed.  Or buy a lovely pot…or recycle an old tire…or get some logs from the wood pile…or pile rocks…or purchase landscape blocks and you have a garden!

 Rocky soils in the Ozarks are a challenge for gardeners.  Our thin topsoil on the hilly areas must be amended for success.  First tool to have is a pick.  Rocks must be loosened to allow drainage.  It’s like you are creating a container by removing the rocks and then fill with good soil.  Use the rocks in a terrace for hillsides.  Any decent soil will wash off the top of the hill eventually and you can retain it for your use.  As new rocks always seem to grow out of any hole dug in the Ozark highlands, you should consider building a raised garden or containers.  The Ozarks has many waterways that have rich soil along the valleys.  Get some for your raised beds and terraced gardens.

AND THE #1 GARDENING TIP IS:   ENJOY! 

There are many reasons to garden & many levels of success.  Work with nature and find a balance that rewards you for your efforts. 

Source:  

Elizabeth “Beti” Pearson, Hickory County Master Gardener & Missouri Master Naturalist Lake of the Ozarks continues gardening in the town of Hermitage, Missouri since 1986.  She hobby farmed near Flemington, Missouri 1978-1986 on 50 acres with husband, Keith, who is also a Hickory County Master Gardener.  It all began when they got married in 1974 in Iowa and recently celebrated 40 years of growing together May 2014.

Posted:  6/13/2014