Tips

Adding dead leaves to your garden makes for sweeter tomatoes next spring and provides better drainage at the same time.

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Compost enriches and loosens hard clay soil profiles and bulks up sandy, weak soil.

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You add compost to the ground when you plant, why not add it to the containers too? Compost is the best stuff for plants and it helps keep them cooler and moist during the summertime.

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Fertilizing regularly is very important. I love using worm castings for this purpose because I can add it anytime and never overfeed. It works like compost and feeds too

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Never leave plants sitting in water. Trays under pots are dangerous because they hold water and can actually drown the roots of the plants by providing too much water.

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Too much heat can be detrimental to tomatoes. They will only set fruits when the temperatures are between 55-85 degrees

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Herbs are very easy to grow with a little sunshine, soil that drains well, some watering, and a little fertilizer or compost

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For harvesting, you simply cut off about 1/3 of the branches when the plant reaches at least 6-8" tall. Cut close to a leaf intersection and your plants will regrow very quickly.

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Roots are the primary way the plant takes up water and nutrients so you want to make their job easy by digging the soil and loosening it up for them.

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A good rule of thumb is to allow 18-24" spacing for most vegetable plants. It is a good idea to use a paper & pencil to draw the garden plan out for best results.

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Water-soluble fertilizers, such as Miracle Gro, were originally developed for growing in greenhouses and are not good for use in the garden as they can wash away, pollute ground water, and create salt buildup in your garden soil.

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Using natural fertilizers such as worm castings, leaves, and compost creates a living soil with good bacteria, micro-organisms and insects that work to break down organic material into nutrients for your plants.

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Planning a garden is easy, just make a quick drawing on a grid type paper allowing 1 square per foot of garden space. Calculate how much space each plant needs and place them in your grid.

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When you plan your garden layout, make sure to allow room for tall plants in the back, away from shorter ones so they don't get shaded out.

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Mulching is so important to success in the garden. If you add just 2-3" of bulky organic material like hay or straw, your plants will be happier and healthier.

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