Vegetable seed germination is greatly dependent upon soil temperature. Other near equal factors include seed vitality (the age of the seed), soil moisture, soil air, and soil conditions and workability. This chart shows the range of soil temperatures needed for seed germination. The chart also shows the number of days to germination at optimum temperatures….
Gardening Tips
Crop Rotation in Small Vegetable Garden
Crop rotation means moving vegetables around the garden to maintain soil fertility. By rotating crops from one spot to another each season—or even in the same season, you can preserve and even boost nutrients in the soil. Differing crops use different amounts of soil nutrients and a few crops add nutrients to the soil. Some…
Vegetable Planting and Soil Temperature
Vegetable seeds and seedlings require minimum soil temperatures to germinate and grow. Seeds and seedlings require optimal soil temperatures to thrive. Soil temperature triggers not only seed germination but is an important factor in soil chemistry. Soil chemistry includes the release (dissolution) of mineral nutrients in soil moisture. Mineral nutrients are essential for vegetable plant…
10 Things to Know About Vegetable Garden Planning
Growing a vegetable garden is not difficult. If you haven’t grown a vegetable garden before here are ten things you should know as you prepare for the growing season. If you are an experienced gardener, review these tips then pass them along to a neighbor or friend. You can grow vegetables year round no matter…
Nature Planting Signals for Vegetables: Phenology
The flowering of trees, shrubs, and perennial plants is determined by day length and temperature (this also applies to the lifecycle of insects and animals. You can use the bloom time of shrubs and trees to tell you when it is safe to plant vegetables in the garden. Look at blooming trees and shrubs in…
How to Prepare an Established Planting Bed for the New Season
Newly established planting beds and planting beds that have been used in past seasons must be readied for the coming growing season. To prepare an established planting bed for the growing season you must decide what is going to be planted in the bed. While most planting beds are basically prepared in the same way,…
How to Grow Onion Sets
Grow your own onion sets from seed. It is not difficult, does not require much time, and can put you ahead in both time and money. Onion sets are small, dry onion bulbs grown the previous season but not allowed to mature. Planted the second season they produce an early crop of bulb onions in…
Growing Bulb Onions: Pick the Right Variety for Your Garden
Bulb onions are particular about where you live. Onion bulb formation is triggered by the number of summer daylight hours. Bulb-forming onions can be divided into three types: Long-day onions which require about 15 hours of summer daylight. Short-day onions which require about 12 hours of summer daylight. Day-neutral (also called intermediate day) onions which…
Growing Leeks Year-Round in Tubes
Leeks are nearly a year-round garden grower. Start leeks indoors in winter for planting out in very early spring for an early summer harvest. Set out leeks transplants in late summer for a fall and all-winter harvest. Leeks are a cool-season crop and produce best if the days remain below 75°F. Sow leek seeds indoors…
Planting Leeks and Shallots Autumn and Spring
Leeks and shallots are easy to grow. They are the subtle, refined-flavor alternatives to bulb onions and garlic. In mild winter regions, plant leeks and shallots in late autumn or winter. In cool–but not cold–winter regions plant leeks and shallots in late summer and autumn for spring harvest. Plant them again in spring for fall…