Watering and Fertilizing

   Some people may wonder why fertilizing is necessary if the plants look healthy.  The answer is that plants that are well fertilized are healthier, produce more and higher quality produce, and are more resistant to disease.  Like us, vegetables do their best if they eat a healthy, nutritious diet!  Unlike us, they will always choose to eat right if good, rich soil is available.  Rich soil contains the nutrients that the plants need to survive.  The major nutrients plants need are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Other nutrients plants need are potash, boron, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc.

Fertilizers come in two forms, organic and inorganic. Plants DON'T CARE whether or not their nutrients come from organic or inorganic sources.  I have found that inorganic fertilizers such as Miracle Gro are easier to apply and cheaper as well.

If you are going to use an inorganic fertilizer make sure it is at least a 10-10-10 type.   This refers to the percent of nutrients, the first number N (nitrogen, the second P (phosphorus), and the third K (potassium).

Organic fertilizers come directly from plants and animals.  The nutrients in organic fertilizers must be broken down by microorganisms before they become available to plants.  Common organic fertilizers are dried blood, kelp, cattle manure, horse manure, and chicken manure.   Each of these has their own N-P-K percentages so it's usually necessary to use a mixture of them to get a "balanced" nutrient content.

The best time to water your garden is in the morning.  Watering at night increases the likelyhood of certain diseases.  It's also important when you water to soak the soil very thoroughly.  Just sprinkling lightly tends to bring the roots up to the surface where they could be damaged by exposure to sunlight.

   

This well-designed book offers a series of detailed plans for a variety of kitchen garden types, including an "exuberant" potager, a salad and herb garden, a formal fruit garden, a vegetable patchwork, a cottage garden, and more. Alphabetically arranged sections on planting and cultivating a wide variety of vegetables and fruits are also included, along with chapters on propagation, crop rotation, and other practical topics. Color photographs and clear drawings appear throughout.