Planning A Garden For Full Potential
Before you start your first Garden you need to understand what your plants will need in order to thrive. If you don’t take these basics into account it’s likely you’ll still have a harvesting period but it won’t be at its full potential. Before you spend several hours and lots of money attempting to grow a garden or a new variety take into account what that individual plant needs in order to survive properly.
The environmental factors of your garden play a huge role in having a full potential Garden. Some of the factors that influence the natural process are as follows:
1. Length Of Day— the timing between sunrise and sunset is very critical in regulating growth. Many plants require specific day length in order to bloom or flower. Take a peak at the United States of America Zoning Map to determine more specific information about your zone.
2. Light— light is the energy source all plants consume! Whether it’s a cloudy or rainy day or there even if there is a shade cast from other plants or structures this will significantly affect the growth of your plants.
3. Temperature— each plant has their own optimal range of temperatures. This range could be little or large depending on the plant species. Temperature is important to help the plants carry on chemical reactions that allow growth. Please pay close attention to the zone you live in and what plants will thrive there the best! Soil temperature is VERY important when germinating seeds.
4. Water— as you know different plants have different water needs just like humans. Some plants can survive drought and others need constant supply of water/moisture to grow. You will most likely in the course of your garden have to supplement the water. Most garden plants need 1-2” of water per week but this could vary.
5. Soil pH— plants roots take in nutrients depending on pH needed. Did you know that you can take a soil sample of your property and turn it into the local 4H office to receive pH results for your land? If you don’t have a local agriculture club you can also purchase an at home tester. Most plants best survive in pH between 6-7. However some plants such as blueberries need a more acidic soil below 6.0 to grow. You can elevate the pH of your soil by using lime or lower the pH by using additive containing different sulfates.
Will you be gardening this year? Little or Large, I would love for you to share with me what varieties you’ll be choosing to grow!
Sophia Brown
Sweet Maple Living