Is it Too Late to Plant?

Heavy rains may have delayed the planting of your garden this year. Many people are wondering if planting a garden now may be a futile task. It is true that some plants produce better if planted in the earliest days of spring, but not all need to be planted so early.

Many avid gardeners say that you should start your plants from seed. Sprouting your seedlings in a controlled environment can help you reduce the chances of introducing certain diseases into your garden. Wilt, club rot and other root disorders can be harbored in the soil of plants that you buy at your nursery. Sprouting your seeds indoors also helps you to control the environment. You will not have to worry about too much rain or soil temperature.

Onions, peas and peppers planted earlier in the season produce more. If you are getting a late start on these vegetables, you may consider using more mature plants from your nursery. If you are worried about diseases, use a garden box or a small corner of your garden to plant these. Water the soil with boiling water to kill microorganisms a day or so before you plant. If you do notice disease, remove the plant and the soil. Fill with peat moss or soil from your nursery to avoid further problems.

Tomatoes, eggplant and greens grow better when planted later in the season. The soil needs to be very warm and well drained for these vegetables to thrive. If the heavy rains have drenched your garden, consider building up a box garden. They drain very well and the soil stays warmer, helping these vegetables grow and produce. The soil in a box garden is also generally loose allowing roots to spread and absorb more oxygen. Use a layer of landscaping fabric under your box garden to avoid grass, weeds and soil diseases from creeping into your garden. Weeds and competing grasses can steal nutrients and water from your vegetables.

Temperature and your growing zone may help determine which vegetables you want to put out in a late planting. Onions and lettuce are really the ones that must be planted early. They can withstand lower temperatures than any other vegetables, down to thirty five degrees Fahrenheit. But, they generally cannot take the summer heat, especially in warmer climates. They will generally wilt or die at above eighty five degrees. Beets, carrots and cauliflower can withstand down to forty degrees, but they can take the hotter summer temperatures of up to one hundred degrees, so they still may do well in a late planting. Most beans, beets, cabbage, carrots and cucumbers do better when planted later, anyway. They need very warm soil to survive.

Once you have planted, keep the soil moist but well drained. Use a garden hose reel to keep your hose close at hand for frequent watering. Watch for soil crusting or extreme dryness. In a box garden, the drainage can save your plants from drowning, but it will need more water than a garden planted directly in the ground. Planting late can mean that you have to wait a little longer than your neighbors to harvest, but it does not mean that you cannot enjoy fresh vegetables from your garden this summer.

About the Author: Stacy Pessoney is an award winning author and writer of web content for many different web sites. She is well versed in many different areas, including gardening, hose reel, lawn care and landscaping.