Shelby Shopper Shelby NC
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Thursday, March 26 - April 1, 2020 www.shelbyinfo.com 704/484-1047 - shelby shopper & info - Page 21 It's time to start thinking about vegetable gardens Spring is around the corner and it's time for folks to get their vegetable garden plans on the move Vegetable gardening consists of selecting a site, planning the garden, preparing the soil, choos- ing the seeds and plants, planting a crop, and nurturing the plants until they are ready for harvest. The end result is fresh produce to eat, share, or sell. Anyone who is willing to in- vest some time every day or two to nurture the plants can grow a vegetable garden. It doesn't take a lot of money, time, or talent, although some of each would be helpful. With patience and practice, your skills will improve every year. Don't be discouraged if the first attempt isn't a huge success. Growing vegetables takes some space, but not necessarily acres. A vegetable garden can be in the ground or in a planting bed, but it doesn't have to be. Many vegetables can be grown in con- tainers. For example, enough let- tuce for a salad can be grown in a 12-inch pot on the back deck. Add a few radishes and carrots, also grown in 12-inch containers, for spice and sweetness, and you have a good start on a delicious salad. Most vegetables need at least eight hours of direct sunlight. Plants that we grow for their leaves—including leafy greens such as lettuce, kale, chard, and spinach—and plants that we grow for their storage roots (such as radishes, turnips, and beets) can be grown in as little as six hours of sunlight but do much better with eight hours or more. Plants that we grow for their fruit, in- cluding tomatoes, squash, and cucumbers, need at least eight and do better with 10 hours of sunlight. One of the most important aspects of gardening is water, which makes up 90 percent of a plant's weight. Water is heavy and difficult to move, so locate the garden near a potable water supply, making it easy to water the garden properly. Dragging a hose hundreds of feet or carrying buckets of water across the yard every few days makes having a garden a lot more work. On aver- age, vegetables need one inch of water per week, and you need to provide only what is not supplied by rain. Water the soil, not the plant. Many diseases are spread by water splashing on the leaves. Overwatering can also lead to insect and disease problems as well as washing nutrients away, converting a valuable garden re- source into pollution in nearby streams. What type of garden? Container gardens, raised beds, traditional rows, and in- tensive plantings are all possi- bilities. Many vegetables can be grown in containers that are deep enough to support their root sys- tems. Containers may range from as small as a 12-inch flowerpot to a half whisky barrel. The big- ger the container, the easier it is to be successful. The larger the mature plant, the larger the con- tainer needs to be. Vegetables that do well in containers include beans, beets, carrots, collards, cu- cumbers, eggplants, garlic, kale, leeks, lettuces, mustard greens, peas, peppers, potatoes, spinach, squash, Swiss chard, and toma- toes. Mix and match vegetables in one container for extended beauty and harvest. Containers require more frequent irrigation than gardens, especially as the plants grow and require more water. A drip irrigation system connected to a timer is a great addition to a container garden. A variety of materials can be used to construct raised beds, but do not use materials that might leach chemicals into the soil, such as old railroad ties. Soil in raised beds will heat up more quickly in the spring and stay warm longer into the fall. Vegetables in raised beds will require more frequent irrigation than those in an in- ground garden. When planned and planted properly, one 4-foot by 8-foot raised bed may supply a good portion of the produce for one or two people. The addition of trellises provides vertical gar- dening and increases the space available to vining plants like cu- cumbers and beans. Larger areas allow gardeners to choose traditional row garden- ing or gardening in beds. While a row garden is easier to manage with a tractor for planting, har- vesting, and other garden chores, planting in a bed makes better use of available space. Using beds allows for several rows to be planted closer together, shading weed seeds and preventing them from growing later in the sea- son. Beds may require a bit more labor to plant initially. But when planted correctly, beds can reduce the need for weeding later in the season. You can also incorporate vegetables in your ornamental beds. What to plant? Grow what you like to eat. If space is limited, concentrate on vegetables that yield the greatest return for the effort, such as pole beans, tomatoes, root crops, and leafy greens. If you like to cook unusual foods, try vegetables that are difficult to find or expensive in the market—such as specialty lettuces or broccolini. Preparing the Soil Containers: Purchase potting soil or make your own by com- bining equal parts of compost, shredded pine bark mulch, and vermiculite. Do not use garden soil in container gardens. Raised beds or in-ground gardens: Amend your soil with organic material first (either homemade compost or purchased certified compost). Then submit a soil sample to determine the pH and nutrient content of your soil. The N.C. Cooperative Extension center in your county can pro- vide a soil test kit to have your soil analyzed and obtain specific recommendations for growing vegetables. Amend the soil based on the recommendations from the soil analysis. Planting Space plants according to the label on the seed packet or plant tag. Allow space for the plant to mature, and leave space for air- flow between plants to prevent disease. Plant seeds only two to three times as deep as the greatest di- ameter of the seed. Cover the seed and firm the soil lightly to ensure good seed-to-soil contact. For plants in peat cups or cubes, remove the part of the peat con- tainer that is above the potting soil in the container, and be sure to cover the containers well with soil when planting them in the garden. Acclimate transplants to their new environment by provid- ing temporary shade for tender transplants for two or three days after setting them out. Garden Care If it doesn't rain, water new seeds and transplants daily until established. Water mature plants as needed. Frequency will de- pend on rainfall and temperature. Check the soil for moisture, and watch plants for symptoms of drought stress (leaves drooping in the morning or early evening). Soil in the vegetable garden should be kept moist but not muddy. Knowing the type of soil in your garden will help you de- termine how frequently it should be watered. A soil that is heavy with lots of clay will need to be watered less frequently than a soil that is lighter with lots of air pockets, such as a sandy soil or container garden soil. Fertilize only as needed fol- lowing the recommendations on your soil analysis. Crops with long growing seasons, such as corn and tomatoes, may need ad- ditional fertilizer partway through the growing season. Watch for symptoms of nitrogen and other nutrient deficiency (including leaves turning yellow and slow growth). Avoid the urge to over- fertilize, which can produce lush plant growth but decrease flow- ering and fruit development and increase pest problems. These and more NC Exten- sion garden tips are available on- line at https://gardening.ces.ncsu. edu/. Some of summer vegetables you can grow in your own back yard, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, and lettuces. Vegetable garden beds you can create in your own back, or side, yards! (NC Extension information/photos) Governor closes schools thru May 15 On Monday, Governor Roy Cooper ordered tighter limits on gatherings and extended school closures statewide to May 15, 2020. The order also closed some businesses that require close social interaction and lim- ited visitors to long-term care centers. The Executive Order's ef- fective date will be Wednesday, March 25. "Each and every choice we are making is intended to flat- ten the curve and provide our health care system the ability to treat the sickest patients in the coming months. This is what we need to do to slow the spread of this illness and protect the health and safety of North Carolin- ians," Governor Cooper said. Also Monday, the Gover- nor's request for a major disaster declaration for North Carolina was received by FEMA. This specifically requested Individual Assistance, Crisis Counseling Program, Disaster Unemploy- ment Assistance, Small Busi- ness Administration Disaster Assistance and more. 50-plus member gatherings are banned and close-contact business closed. Monday's announcement prioritized social distancing by lowering the threshold on large gatherings to ban crowds of more than 50 people. To stay consistent with this number, it will require certain businesses to close, including: • Bingo Parlors, including Bingo sites operated by chari- table organizations •Bowling Alleys • Indoor Exercise Facilities (e.g. gyms, yoga studios, martial arts facilities, indoor trampoline and rock-climbing facilities) • Health Clubs • Indoor Pools • Live Performance Venues • Movie Theaters • Skating Rinks • Spas • Sweepstakes Lounges • Video game arcades • Barber Shops • Beauty Salons (including waxing and hair removal cen- ters) • Hair Salons • Nail Salons/Manicure/Pedi- cure Providers • Massage Parlors • Tattoo Parlors Grocery stores and restau- rants providing takeout and delivery will remain open. Ad- ditionally, Governor Cooper reminded North Carolinians to show restraint in buying grocer- ies and supplies. "I know today's orders cause hardship for a lot of people. I do not treat these decisions lightly," added Governor Cooper. "We have made them in the interest of health and safety." School Deadline Extended, Education Leadership To Build Plan For Education The May 15 school closure date is based on current guid- ance from the Centers for Dis- ease Control and Prevention. As the situation in North Carolina evolves, more may be needed. Governor Cooper has asked the State Board to collaborate with the Department of Public In- struction and legislators to: • Develop a plan to ensure access to a quality education for students through the remainder of the school year. • Provide students with re- mote learning while school buildings are closed. • Ensure that all school em- ployees – including janitors, bus drivers, teaching assistants and cafeteria workers -- will work in safe environments and be paid. Medical Volunteers, Sup- plies Needed Also Monday, Cooper high- lighted the need for medical and health care workers and urged qualified, available profession- als to volunteer by signing up at ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus. Already more than 300 people have volunteered. Specifically, the Governor highlighted the need for doctors and nurses, pharmacy, imaging and respiratory care, and facility maintenance and administrative support workers. Critical supplies and equip- ment like masks, gloves, and gowns are low. Governor Coo- per is convening North Caro- lina's top manufacturers to explore transitioning production lines to start making these criti- cal supplies. Certain business types closed