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The Garden Plot for April 18, 2008
3:55 PM - 4:00 PM
[Program Website]
Today's Highlight: “Garden Planning”
Spring seems to be taking its own sweet time and gardeners are losing patience. Not to worry, this gives us more time to plan the perfect vegetable garden. As food prices rise, this is a good time to plan for maximum production of the most nutritious vegetables. Which common garden vegetables provide the most nutrition? Missoula County Extension Service has put together a new publication: The Garden Planning Calendar – from the dirt to the dinner plate. The calendar includes information on vegetable and fruit vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium contents, as well as fiber contents. It tells you when and how to plant, harvest, can and freeze specific garden crops. Missoula County residents can come into the extension office for a copy of the calendar. It is also available on-line at www.missoulaeduplace.org. Click on Plant Clinic Publications. Broccoli, cauliflower, peas, peppers, spinach, and carrots win overall in the vitamin A and vitamin C categories. So, take time and plan your vegetable garden carefully this year.
As it turns out, gardeners may not gain much from planting too early. If soil and air temperatures are cool, no matter how early plants go out they will NOT grow until temperatures warm to a plant’s preferred temperature level. Lettuce will germinate at soil temperatures as low as 45 F. Spinach tolerates even lower temperatures, down to 40F. But, Snap Beans insist upon warmer soil temperatures of 60 F. If you plant beans in a 50 F soil, besides growing very slowly, they are more susceptible to root rot disease and root maggot insect infestation. Snap Beans are not the most sensitive vegetables to cool soil. Summer squash wants even warmer temperatures than beans (65 F).
Since patience is not a quality most Montana gardeners have cultivated, how can we push the season when the weather is cold? Planting transplants rather than seed, clear and colored plastic mulches, row covers, and cold frames all help gardeners get our gardens going earlier.
For more vegetable gardening information, contact your local county extension agent.
Helen Atthowe's new short program of gardening tips
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