Early Tips For Your Spring Vegetable Garden | Gardener State

William Erickson | Taxpayer

As the days get longer and the temperatures rise, it's time to rethink our gardens.

Although the ground is still frozen and the days of working outside in the summer sun are months away, there are many things we can do to prepare for winter gardening ahead.

Garden planning

In winter, you can think about the place of the garden. Ideally, the garden should be a sunny place with well-drained soil. Gardens closer to home also attract more attention than gardens further away because they are seen more often and focus on plants that need attention. Proximity to water sources is also important, and if your area is a high threat to wildlife, consider bird fencing or netting. It may be helpful to first draw a plan of your garden on paper to visualize the area before planting seeds in the ground.

When the soil finally thaws, it's time to do a soil fertility test to ensure your plants have the nutrient levels they need for healthy growth. The Rutgers Soil Testing Laboratory offers affordable and accurate soil fertility testing for gardens of all sizes, providing personalized recommendations for the specific plants you want to grow.

Start the seeds at home

Many cool-season plants can be grown indoors and planted outdoors in the spring as a nursery. Lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and collards can be started early and put into the garden. Using a well-drained, soilless growing medium that is free of insects and disease is best for healthy seedlings. A clean container is also important. This can be a plastic container, a peat pot or a soil clod. The plastic cover on the container helps to maintain heat and humidity during seed germination, but should be removed once the plants start growing. This allows for better airflow and reduces the risk of complications such as dizziness.

Indoor seedlings need more light. This can be done with fluorescent or LED bulbs. Plants need 14 to 16 hours of light per day and you can set a timer to turn the lights on and off automatically. Light sources should be placed close to the plants (1-2 inches) to ensure they get enough light. As the plants grow, it is necessary to turn on the light so as not to touch the young plants.

Outdoor transplant

Winter can usually be planted outside in April. However, the seedlings must be strong before they come out. Hardening seedlings to an outdoor environment is a process that can cause stress on young indoor plants due to large fluctuations in sun, wind and temperature. Hardening the seedlings means placing them in the sun on a cool, windless day and then bringing them indoors at night. Outdoor cold frames help harden off seedlings. This process allows for a gradual transition and should take a week or two before moving to the garden. After the seedlings are strong, they can be carefully removed, being careful not to damage the stems. The earth around them should be compacted a little, then it should be watered a lot.

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No-till

Some cool-season plants, such as carrots, peas, spinach and radishes, do best when planted directly in garden beds. These plants can usually be planted after the soil is fertile. It is important to follow the seed spacing guidelines for each plant and seeds should not be planted too deep. After planting, the seeds should be lightly covered with soil and watered. Since the seeds will dry out at this stage, the seedbed should be kept moist after the seeds are planted in the ground.

Take care of your garden

In addition to watering, according to the soil test, the fertility of your garden should be maintained. Proper spacing and airflow can help reduce disease problems. Weed control in small gardens can usually be done by hand weeding and using organic mulch. Mulch not only controls weeds, but also retains moisture and adds organic matter to the soil.

With proper planning, timing, and attention to detail, your spring garden can produce plenty of winter vegetables in early winter. What are you waiting for? It's time to grow up!

For more information, visit the Rutgers Home, Lawn and Garden website at njaes.rutgers.edu/home-lawn-garden/.

William Erickson is the Agriculture and Natural Resources Officer for Rutgers Cooperative Extension in Monmouth County.