subject: Gardening Mistakes We Have All Made [print this page] Gardening Mistakes We Have All Made Gardening Mistakes We Have All Made
Congratulations! You have decided to create your own survival vegetable garden. I would be willing to bet that every person who has ever started a garden has made one of these mistakes at least once or twice. Hopefully you will not fall victim to these mistakes, you certainly don't want to have to slap yourself on the forehead and say "Duh, why did I do that?"
1. Not preparing your soil correctly. If you are not sure of the quality or the PH of your soil, have it tested or do it yourself with a soil testing kit which is available at your nursery or garden center. If your soil is barren or of poor quality, add soil amendments such as peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, humus, compost, compost-manure or fertilizer as needed. The soil should be friable meaning that it is easily crumbled in your hand. Soil in this condition allows air and water to permeate it and is vitally necessary for healthy plant growth. A good overall mix is 2/3 soil with 1/3 amendments added. Remember you feed the soil, not the plants.
2. Not planting in an area that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
3. Overplanting. Treat your seed like they are gold, after all they are more valuable than gold, particularly if you save your favorite heirloom varieties or the market shelves are bare. Fewer seeds spaced further apart are enough, why waste your time money and effort thinning and culling out what you do not need.
4. Improper watering is one of the primary causes of crop failure. The initial watering after sowing can be light but as the plants mature, consistent and deep soaking is recommended. One inch of water per week is the norm. Drip irrigation systems and soaker hosed are ideal because they place the water at the roots and reduce evaporation. Water deeply, not weekly.
5. Planting at the wrong depth. If you are using transplants, make the hole about the size of the root ball. The root ball should protrude a fraction of an inch above the ground. If the root ball is tightly bound, use your hands to gently open it up so the roots will spread. Do not bury your seeds too deep. It is advisable to read the directions on the seed packet for advice
6. Planting vegetables that are not suitable for your growing zone. The USDA has a map showing these zones which can be viewed at http://www.survivalvegetablegardening.com/gardeningzones.html
7. Using unhealthy transplants, they may recover and become fertile but the odds are against it and chances are you will be disappointed.
8. Letting the garden go to weed. Some people actually enjoy weeding, but most of us find it just a chore, by starting early you will get ahead of those pesky weeds so they will not be competing for growing space, nourishment and sunshine.
9. Using too much fertilizer is not recommended and can cause crop burn and other nasty problems. Too much nitrogen, for example causes excessive foliage growth, spindly stems and less produce. One inch of good compost should be enough for one full growing season.
10. Too big a garden becomes a chore and tends to suffer from a lack of attention and will soon go to weed. Don't bite off more than you can chew, a 4' x 8' plot will furnish you with enough to feed your family for one season. If after getting your hands dirty, you may want to expand your efforts next year. Remember, you cannot grow too much; extra produce can be canned, stored in a root cellar, frozen, given away or simply used in lieu of cash.
