04-2018-GL-FINAL

and looks pretty too.
7. Garden vegetables that
become over-ripe are
an easy target for some
pests. Remove them as
soon as possible to avoid
detection.
8. Onions are ready to
harvest when the tops
have fallen over. Let the
soil dry out, harvest, and
store in a warm, dry, dark
place until the tops dry.
Cut off the foliage down
to an inch, then store in a
cool, dry area.
9. Keep dirt off lettuce
and cabbage leaves when
growing by spreading a
1-2 inch layer of mulch
(untreated by pesticides
or fertilizers) around each
plant. This also helps keep
the weeds down.
10. When planting a
flower or vegetable
transplant, deposit a
handful of compost into
each hole. Compost will
provide transplants with
an extra boost that lasts
throughout the growing
season.
11. Insects can’t stand
plants such as garlic,
onions, chives and
chrysanthemums. Grow
these plants around the
garden to help repel
insects.
12. Milk jugs, soda
bottles and other plastic
containers make great
mini-covers to place over
your plants and protect
them from frost.
13. For easy peas, start
them indoors. The
germination rate is far
better, and the seedlings
will be healthier and
better able to fight off
pests and disease.
14. Healthy soil means
healthy plants that are
better able to resist pests
and disease, reducing
the need for harmful
pesticides.
15. Another reason
to use natural and
organic fertilizers and
soil amendments:
earthworms love
them! Earthworms are
extremely beneficial
in the vegetable
garden; increasing
air space in the soil
and leaving behind
worm castings.
Do what you can
to encourage
earthworms in your
soil.
16. Diatomaceous
earth makes an
excellent organic
insecticide – it is an
abrasive white powder
used to damage the
cuticle, skin and joints of
insects. It also makes an
excellent slug barrier.
17. Some vegetables
actually become better
after a first frost,
including kale, cabbage,
parsnips, carrots, and
Brussels sprouts.
18. When transplanting
tomatoes, cover the stem
with soil all the way up
to the first set of leaves.
This greatly encourages
root growth, making a
stronger, healthier plant.
19. Healthy soil means
a thriving population of
microbes, earthworms
and other organisms.
A soil that has “good
tilth” will produce robust
garden plants that are
better able to resist pests
and disease.