Tips to Grow a Healthy Garden

This week Elise and Tucker Smith of Cedar Rock Gardens share some tips on succession planting.

Bring your garden to the next level by succession planting for a continual harvest!

Know Your Frost Dates: Understand your last spring frost date and first fall frost date to plan your planting schedule accordingly.
Divide Your Plantings: Rather than planting all at once, stagger your plantings every few weeks. This ensures a steady supply of fresh produce.
Choose Suitable Crops: Opt for quick-growing crops that mature in a relatively short time, such as lettuce, radishes, spinach, and certain varieties of beans and greens.
Consider Temperature Tolerances: Be mindful of temperature preferences for different crops. Some may prefer cooler temperatures in early spring or fall, while others thrive in the heat of summer.
Rotate Your Crops: Succession planting allows you to rotate crops, which can help prevent soil depletion and reduce pest and disease problems. For example we never follow a brassica crop with another brassica crop to reduce flea beetle pressure.
Use Companion Planting: Pairing compatible plants together can maximize space and deter pests, promoting healthier growth.
Maintain Soil Health: Keep your soil fertile and well-drained by regularly adding compost and organic matter. Healthy soil promotes healthy plants and better yields.
Monitor Weather Conditions: Stay informed about upcoming weather events, as extreme temperatures or unexpected frosts can impact your planting schedule.
Adjust as Needed: Flexibility is key in gardening. Be prepared to adjust your planting schedule based on weather, pest activity, or other factors affecting your garden.

At Cedar Rock right now they are direct seeding hakurei, bok choy, radish, arugula and mizuna every 10 days or so to make sure they have a good harvest each week. These crops are fast growing and easy to turn over to another crop!

Thanks to our farm partners, Elise & Tucker, for their inspired gardening tips! Stop by and visit them at Cedar Rock Gardens to pick up a variety of their beautiful, healthy plants.