May is in the end here and frost is ( hopefully ) not . The land is warming and we can finally plant the summertime vegetables we all love to grow and eat up .
As noted in the last issue ofThe Garden Shed , Average Last Frost dates are a little ambiguous in the westerly Piedmont . Extension Publication 426 - 331 , Vegetable Planting Guide and recommended Planting Dates , position Albemarle and surrounding counties in the Mountain neighborhood , rather than the Piedmont , and putsaveragelast frost date as May 10 - 15 . However , USDA places us in Hardiness Zone 7A with ouraveragelast freeze appointment of April 15 . Since “ median ” means 50 % probability and since we are on the edge , there is some guesswork involved . I and a mess of my friends use May 1 as our summer veg planting date and sneak a look at the long term forecast for sureness . In any case , it ’s judicious to be ready to act if a late frost arrives unexpectedly .
So , depending on your risk preference and the National Weather Service crystallization ball , get quick to set your love apple , peppers , eggplant , squash , corn , beans , cucumber vine and Hibiscus esculentus . Along with maintaining the early spring - planted crops such as potatoes , broccoli , cabbage , cauliflower , leeks and onions et al , May is about the engaged month of the year for the vegetable gardener .
If you are like most of us , you are always tempted to plant just a bit more than you have elbow room for . Some helpful advice for garden planning is available in extension publicationPlanning the Vegetable Garden . When you calculate outwhatto plant , refer again toExtension Publication 426 - 331 , Vegetable Planting Guide for assistant decidingwhento plant . As noted above , it is pretty conservative , and unless you are in reality in the mountains , may be later than necessary to invalidate frost . But in any case , understand the peril if you choose to plant earlier .
Extend your harvest time seasonby planting sweet corn and beans every two week through the last of June .
omit corn whiskey kernels on your corn ears?This may be the resolution ofpoor pollination . sweet-flavored maize is wind - pollinated . Block planting in brusk rows(3 - 4 rows or more)will pollinate more successfullythan 1 or 2 long row . When doing succession planting , block the area into the section . For instance , if you have infinite for 4 rows of corn , rather than implant two farsighted row of edible corn and waiting 2 weeks to imbed the remaining two row , divide the area into two engine block and plant 4 short rows . Then two week later , plant the remaining 4 short rows . This process will insure greater pollenation . For more data on growing sweet edible corn , take a look atVirginia Cooperative Extension Publication 426 - 405 .
Keep your white potato covered . The skins of white potato expose to sun will change state green . This green people of colour comes from the pigment chlorophyll produced as a response to sunlight . “ Green Potatoes ” will often make grow a vitriolic taste and may even become toxic . This can be prevented by covering the exposed potatoes — by hilling - up soil over the white potato , or covering them with straw mulch . For additional entropy on growing Solanum tuberosum , seeVirginia Cooperative Extension Publication 426 - 413
To keep in line weedsin the garden , ruin them before they uprise seeds . Refrain from cultivating and hoeing deeply ; this can have damage to the shallow source of your vegetable . Also , avoid using mulch or compost contaminate with seeds . For additional entropy on controlling widow’s weeds in the home garden , seeVirginia Cooperative Extension Publication 426 - 364 .
For counseling on fertilizing , fit outExtension Publication 426 - 323 , fecundate the Vegetable Garden . In a few Page it offers a overnice sum-up of industrial plant nutrition requirements and fertilizing pick .
Whenwatermelons , muskmelons , squash and cucumbersare plant in a mound , place a stickupright in the eye of the hill and leave it there . Later in the summer when the hill becomes hidden by the vines , you will know where to irrigate . You ’ll not only be salve time look for the master root , but you ’ll be save water supply as well .
Successful eggplant developmentis dependent on a span of temperatures of 80º-90ºF and plenty of urine . pee well when plant are unseasoned . urine at least twice a hebdomad when temperatures are eminent and there is no rain . For additional information on growing mad apple in the dwelling garden , seeVirginia Cooperative Extension Publication 426 - 413 .
The in force fourth dimension to transplanttomato , white pepper and aubergine is on a cool cloudy day or of late in the afternoon to avoid the hot sun . This path the plants have time to acclimate to their new environment . If the following daylight is hot and sunny , a quarrel natural covering may be used to reduce stress on the works .
When transplanting seedling inpeat pots , mildly tear off the top inch of the plenty ; the upper edges of the pot should be cover with soil to avert wicking water supply off from the soil surface . Wicking may reduce the amount of moisture uncommitted to the etymon of the works .
Break the rulewhen mise en scene - out love apple plants . The general pattern for transplanting most plants is that the planting depth should be no deeper than the dirt degree they were originally produce in . This ruledoes NOTapply to tomato plant plant . The general rule for tomatoes is that2/3 of the tomato flora should be below filth spirit level . First , gently remove the leaf on the bottom 2/3 of the plant before planting . Planting oceanic abyss set aside stem to sprout along the buried shank ( adventitious origin ) . This results in a better and stronger solution system and the end result is better tomato . In heavy soil or if you just do n’t want to travail late , you’re able to lay the plant on its side , provided that 5 - 6 inch of grime is placed over the roots and radical . For extra data on grow tomatoes , see VCE Publication 426 - 418 titled“Tomatoes ” .
Resources :
“ Vegetable Planting Guide and Recommended Planting Dates . ” Va. Coop . Ext . Publication No . 426 - 331,http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426 - 331/426 - 331.html
“ vegetable Recommended For Virginia,”Va . Coop . Ext . Publication No . 426 - 480,https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426 - 480/426 - 480.html
“ Sweet Corn , ” Va. Coop . Ext . Publication No . 426 - 405,http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426 - 405/426 - 405.html
“ Potatoes , Peppers and Eggplant , ” Va. Coop . Ext . Publication No . 426 - 413,http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426 - 413/426 - 413.html
“ Weeds in the Home Garden , ” Va. Coop . Ext . , Publication No . 426 - 364,http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426 - 364/426 - 364.html
“ Tomatoes , ” Va. Coop . Ext . Publication No . 426 - 418,https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426 - 418/426 - 418.html
