With planting season just around the corner, don’t miss our Spring Plant and Bulb Sale, Friday, May 25 from 9:30 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. at the Parkland Mall, Yorkton. There will be a great selection of plants at very reasonable prices, and gardeners on hand to answer your questions.
I’d also like to remind you to visit our website at www.yorktonhort.ca; you’ll find the latest news about the group’s activities, as well as useful information such as the very timely germination temperature chart for various vegetables. Some of the temperatures will surprise you! Check it out before you plant!
One more thing: the hort society is planning a road trip to Dauphin on Saturday, June 9 to see some yards and greenhouses. Would you like to join us? Call Liz at 782-2830 before the end of the week for full details!
It’s such fun to plan our gardens. We know that gardens can be any size, and we can even “garden” in containers. We’ve all read about how a ten by ten foot garden can yield an amazing amount of produce. Taking this to another level, I even heard about a four by four foot garden, with assorted crops planted in each square foot. So we can have a garden even in a very small space.
But first, some basics. If possible, plant rows from north to south; this way they will get the most sun each day as it arcs across the sky from east to west. The garden giants like corn should grow at the north or west side of the garden so that they don’t shade their shorter vegetable neighbors. Our gardens need at least hours eight of sun each day, and they like to enjoy good air circulation.
Be sure the soil drains well. No veggies like to have wet feet all the time. Avoid planting near big trees or large shrubs, since these compete with the veggies for moisture and nutrients.
Help your garden soil to be all that it can be: add compost or manure to the soil when you are tilling your garden, or top-dress plants through the summer. Garden yields will only be as good as the soil; if the soil is tired out and not amended, there is nothing for the plants to draw on as they grow, and they won’t produce as well. And since so many of us have smaller gardens, we want them to produce the maximum that they can!
Gardeners with limited space can keep in mind that they don’t have to plant in traditional rows; we can plant in blocks or squares to make the most of space. I read that square foot gardening uses up to 80% less space than regular row gardening, and can produce more! And one other thing to keep in mind when we have limited space: gardens should include our individual preferences. You don’t have to plant the things you think “should” be included in every garden. Pick your favorites: maybe all you want to grow in your small space is tomatoes, peppers and onions. Go for it! But I ask all gardeners to include one row of flowers for the bees!
Have a great week, and be sure to wear a hat!
