Recently I asked a couple at church to share some of their gardening knowledge. They not only have a beautiful yard / garden they also have completed Master Gardner classes.
They were kind enough to type something up for me.
FALL
Putting garden to "rest"--
1. Clean vines from beds--
a. Tomato, bean and squash vines do not break down unless chopped up relatively fine.
2. Rototill soil--
a. Add soil amendments-see below. Will break down during the winter.
b. Add Sulfur (disintegrating)-helps neutralize alkaline soil.
Materials that you should and should not compost (from U on Master Gardener Handbook).
YES
aquatic plants
bread
branches--chipped
brush--chipped
com cobs
bread
branches--chipped
brush--chipped
com cobs
cut flowers
egg shells
evergreen needles
fruit
evergreen needles
fruit
fruit peels and rinds
garden trimmings
grass clippings
leaves
garden trimmings
grass clippings
leaves
manure--cattle, horse, rabbit, chicken
paper (shredded works well)
paper (shredded works well)
sawdust
straw
sod
vegetables
vegetable trimmings and tops
weeds without seeds
weeds without seeds
wood ash
wood-chips
wool waste
NO
Oily foods ( attracts pests)
butter
butter
bones
cheese
fish scraps
lard
mayonnaise
meat and poultry
peanut butter
salad dressing
sour cream
vegetable oil
peanut butter
salad dressing
sour cream
vegetable oil
Possible sources of disease and weeds
cat manure
cat manure
dog manure
diseased plants
plants with rhizomatous roots
plants with severe insect infestation
weed that have gone to seed
plants with severe insect infestation
weed that have gone to seed
Possible sources of toxins
black walnut leaves
black walnut leaves
cedar chips, bark, branches
grass treated with persistent herbicides
Manures take time to break down. Too much may be too "hot" and will give you wonderful plants, but little fruit.
Cover compost pile with soil as well as turn periodically.
SPRING
"Waking" garden up- (:
Rototill beds as soon as soil is dry enough and as deep as possible.
Add fertilizer as needed-Triple 16 or Ammonium Sulfate.
It's generally recommended to rotate crops.
If buying tomato and pepper seedlings-
a. Transplant them to 20 oz. plastic glasses with drainage holes in bottom.
b. Clip all but top leaves and place in glass with 1-2 inches of potting soil in bottom.
c. Fill the glass up with potting soil.
d. Put in hot frame (old waterbed heaters help keep the plants warm during cool spring
days/nights).
days/nights).
e. PLANT AFTER LAST FROST.
Placing black fabric on tomato and pepper beds means less watering. It also holds the heat when the
weather is cool and keeps down the weeds.
weather is cool and keeps down the weeds.
Burn plants from last year and rototill ashes into garden beds. Check with the fire department for permits to burn.
Chemical amendments-Soil Acidifier plus Iron.
SUMMER
Putting garden to "work" --
Keep plants moist--drip systems on timers are helpful.
Vegetables-these seem to work well in this area--
Tomatoes--
San Marzono-Roma
Beefmaster - large, juicy, excellent flavor
Better Boy-- large, juicy, excellent flavor
Better Boy-- large, juicy, excellent flavor
Fourth of Iuly--early variety, small, excellent flavor
Peppers--
Better Belle
Keystone Resistant Giant
Red Beauty
Anaheim Chili-medium hot-good for salsa
Garden Salsa-hot
Red Beauty
Anaheim Chili-medium hot-good for salsa
Garden Salsa-hot
Pimentos
Potatoes-
Reds-Norland, Red Pontiac, Red La Soda
White--Russet Burbank, Kennebec
White--Russet Burbank, Kennebec
Beans-
Blue Lake (bush and pole)
Cucumbers-
Straight Eights (need to be kept well watered).
Reduce water late summer/early fall except for cucumbers.
Insect control (as needed)-Malathion (fruit trees/apples) or Sevin-be sure to read labels.
Good garden soil takes several seasons to achieve. The more the soil is enriched the better the
crops.
crops.
For really, really good advice check out the USU Extension Service. The local office is near the Weber
County Fairgrounds. Information is also available on-line.
County Fairgrounds. Information is also available on-line.
