Tips For Preparing The Garden For The Season Ahead

Getting the flour or vegetable garden ready for spring? Perhaps a key in planning and planting is looking back to last year, according to Elizabeth Domenghini of Kansas State University Extension. 

“If last fall or last summer, your plants were struggling, if you were seeing spots on the stems or the leaves, or stunted growth and it's something that's just irregular, something you weren't expecting to see. There's a reason for that.” 

And while she acknowledges a myriad of factors could be behind that. 

“Could be not enough sunlight. The planting location may not have been ideal”. 

Discolored leaves from last year's plants could be an indication of. 

“Nutrient deficiencies, or even toxicities.” 

When suspected nutrition deficiencies or soil toxicities Domenghini recommends testing your soil. As for potential pest or disease threats. 

“Examine the soil looking for egg cases, things like that in the soil on the underside of the leaves.” 

And while usually this kind of investigation as best in the fall, if you come across any of these signs in your garden at any time. 

“I would not recommend replanting that same species of plant in that same area the following spring.” 

You might be familiar with crop rotation when it comes to a farmer planting different species in different fields at different times. For your plant or vegetable garden. 

“Rotating your crops is a good idea regardless of whether or not you saw signs of problems the previous year.” 

But what if rotation is not possible due to limitations like available space? 

“Maybe don't grow that crop for a couple of years. Give your soil a chance to rebound and then try it again in a couple of years.” 

Domenghini realizes these tips are generic in nature. For more specific information. 

“Your local extension agency is a valuable resource. They can provide you with information about common pests for your area and things that gardeners have been seeing.

“Working with your other local gardeners is a really good way to get some of that information of what you should be looking for in your garden as well," she added.

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