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Our backyard and garden are low so they take a little time to dry out enough to work in after the ice and snow is gone. I thought I would get out and dig up the garden and clean up the yard but it’s either snowing or raining.

Now it’s past the middle of April and I still haven’t gotten into my vegetable garden. I want to make it about 2 or 3 feet wider before planting as well.

It seems like we get a couple of day with some sun and it almost gets dry enough to get out and start but before the water’s gone it rains some more.

My poor strawberry patch may have seen it’s last days as I made the mistake and removed all the leaves we had covering them for winter. They looked happy and started turning nice and green but then we got freezing rain and then more snow and frost that may have just killed them.

I won’t know for a few days as they are once again covered in snow.

Maybe I should be planting some snow peas or something.

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We can’t get enough strawberries in our house, although we don’t really care for the strawberries we buy at the grocery store in the off season. They just don’t taste the same at all.

For that reason we are doubling the size of our strawberry patch so we can preserve some for the off season, maybe make a few strawberry and rhubarb pies.

1. The Way To Plant Your Strawberries

When planting your strawberries from their original pots they need to be planted to the correct depth or you could cause your strawberry plant to dry up before it takes root or rot from being to deep in the ground. The best guide is to plant them at the same depth as they are in their original pot.

When you look at your strawberry plant, once it out of the dirt, you will see a definite line where the plant was in the dirt from the pot. That’s going to tell you exactly how deep to plant it.

2. Your Strawberry Plants Require Some Things To Be Healthy

Your strawberries require plenty of water but not so much they drown. For this reason it’s wise to make sure you have soil that drains well. This will also keep your strawberry plants from getting diseases related to wet soil and plants.

As the strawberry’s roots get stronger you will need less water but once they start to produce strawberries you will need to increase the amount of water to get nice plump strawberries. Too little water is going to force the strawberries to be smaller and may even be dry.

3. First Season With Strawberries

We found this hard to do but it made for healthier strawberry plants. We pinched off any flowers the first year so that no strawberries formed. Instead all that energy went into making strong healthy plant and roots.

I would have to say it worked great as we had so many strawberries and they tasted like the strawberries we used have at home when I was just a little guy.

If you are using quality top soil or refreshing your soil with compost you likely won’t need to feed your strawberries, however if you feel the need to feed in the spring just give them a watered down solution of high potassium tomato feed.

4. Taking Care of Runners

Runners are great when you’re trying to get a strawberry patch growing but then they need to be controlled. We started our strawberry patch with just one tiny strawberry plant.

As the runners moved across the bare patch of ground we pegged each node, which is an individual plant. I moved each runner in the direction we needed a new plant, just that simple.

Allowing the runners to go wild like that drains strength for them main plant but we were not planning on having strawberries that year.

We even pinched off all blossoms so as to keep the plant stronger so it could spread. In just one year that one little plant took over the entire 4″x10″ raised bed.

5. Using Mulch Around Strawberry Plants

When the strawberry plants were large enough and numerous enough we started putting mulch around them to keep weeds from growing but also to keep water from evaporating. We were careful not to put mulch on top of the plants so we cleaned each plants.

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We’ve only had a vegetable garden, that wasn’t just a container garden, for a couple of years now and we are loving it more each year. The garden also seems to get a bit bigger each year as well. Eventually we would like it to use most of the property on the south side of our lot as vegetable garden.

We’ve learned new things about gardening each year, like our first year we learned that the direction your plant your vegetables can make a difference. We planted our first garden north to south which caused rain water to run down the rows and eroded a lot of top soil. So, lesson learned and the following year we planted east to west instead.

We had also planted corn and found that it blocked the sunlight once it reached a certain height so the following year planted it on the east side of the garden so that it would not block the rest of the garden. So now the corn is on the opposite side.

This year I am paying attention to the height of my veggies and will try to plant them so they don’t block anything.

The garden has been under water since the snow has been melting and only accessible to the ducks flying over. However after more than a week of having a swimming pool in the yard the ground has softened enough to allow it to drain.

This morning it almost dried on the surface. Maybe I will be able to make it a couple of feet wider this week end.

Our little garden is only 5″ x 18″ right now but that bigger than when we started. Maybe I can dig it so that it’s 6″ wide and if my son helps maybe even wider.

We still have lots of time to get our garden ready but if I have learned anything over the years I have learned that time flies and then it’s gone. So I like to get things prepared well in advance if at all possible.

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Are you looking to plant your very own vegetable garden but you’re not sure how to get started? Planting a healthy vegetable garden provides so many benefits including an abundance of healthy organic food and saving thousands on your grocery bills. I don’t know about you but I still remember the days when a tomato from the supermarket tasted like a tomato, not anymore unfortunately. Let’s look at some vegetable gardening for beginners tips to help get you started today.

Vegetable Gardening For Beginners – Tips

Preparation is the key to growing a beautiful and healthy vegetable garden. Planning is critical for setting up a vegetable garden that you can harvest every daily. Vegetable gardening for beginners does not have to be difficult with the correct planning.

First you must decide on your plot, the area for your garden. The ideal spot is somewhere that receives plenty of morning sun and protection from the elements such as wind. Although you maybe limited with the space you have available don’t be discouraged as you will be shocked at how much you can grow by maximizing the space you have. Ensure there is sufficient drainage for water run off.

Importance Of Soil Quality

One of the most common vegetable gardening for beginners tips you will hear is never underestimate soil quality. Soil is the life line of a garden do not underestimate it’s importance. You must ensure that your soil preparations include checking the soil and preparing it by testing its pH levels. The ideal pH level for your soil is 6.5, if you do not have a test kit you can go to your local garden outlet and let them test it for you.

Don’t stress if your levels are out of whack for the moment, you can purchase garden lime that will improve the pH levels of your soil. In a nutshell your pH levels will determine how much nutrients your vegetables will be able to receive.

Preparing Your Plot

Dig your plot and turn your soil over, ensure you dig into a depth of about 12″ (30cm) and remove any weeds you find by hand. Avoid using weed killers and they can effect your soil structure and levels. Once your pH levels are in healthy range, wait 4-5 weeks before you begin planting.

The vegetables that you grow will dependent on where you live. Speak to your gardening outlet that will buy seedlings from for the most suitable vegetables.

Ask about purchasing some organic fertilizer which will be the life blood of your garden. Organic fertilizers such as animal manure, blood and bones as well as compost are terrific choices for providing essential nutrients and moisture.

Growing Vegetables Year Round

The key to planting a successful garden is to have vegetables that you can harvest year round. By doing this you can rotate different vegetables to help ensure the health of your gardening by limiting pests and diseases. One of the most common vegetable gardening for beginners mistakes is insufficient planning and set up process.

If you set up your garden correctly you will have vegetables that you can harvest every single day. With the right planning your garden should require very maintenance and upkeep as it continues to provide fresh, organic food for you and your family for years to come.

Learn http://www.organicvegetablegardens.info vegetable gardening for beginners tips that will help you produce fresh, organic vegetables year round and save up to $5,000 a year on food.

Learn how to set up a vegetable garden that requires only 8 hours work per year! Discover how to plant a vegetable garden you can harvest ever day regardless of where you live at http://www.organicvegetablegardens.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_T._Gregory

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