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Fall Gardening Tips for a Bountiful Harvest

Posted on August 22, 2023August 22, 2023 by escranton@proechosolutions.com

As the summer warmth begins to wane and the leaves start to display their vibrant hues, it's time for gardeners to shift their focus to fall gardening. Fall is an ideal season for gardening, with its cooler temperatures and abundant moisture creating the perfect conditions for a successful harvest. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a novice, these fall gardening tips will help you make the most of this fruitful season.

Choose the Right Crops

Selecting the right crops for your fall garden is crucial. Some vegetables thrive in cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours. Consider planting crops such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, spinach, kale, lettuce, radishes, carrots, and beets. These vegetables are well-suited for fall's conditions and can often withstand light frost.

Plan and Prepare

Before you start planting, take time to plan your fall garden layout. Consider crop rotation to prevent soil-borne diseases and pests. Prepare your soil by amending it with compost or well-rotted manure to improve its structure and fertility. Clear out any summer crops that have finished producing and remove debris to minimize overwintering pests.

Extend the Growing Season

To maximize your harvest, consider using season-extending techniques. Cold frames, row covers, and cloches can help protect your plants from early frosts and provide extra warmth. These simple structures create a microclimate that allows you to continue growing tender crops well into fall.

Optimize Watering Practices

As the temperature drops and rainfall increases, you'll need to adjust your watering routine. Monitor the moisture levels of your garden regularly and water only when necessary. Aim for deep, infrequent watering to encourage strong root development. Mulching around your plants can help retain soil moisture and regulate temperature.

Monitor for Pests and Diseases

While fall gardening generally sees fewer pest and disease issues, it's still important to keep an eye out for potential problems. Regularly inspect your plants for any signs of infestation or disease. Early detection allows for more effective intervention, whether through manual removal, organic sprays, or other appropriate methods.

Harvest in a Timely Manner

Harvesting your crops at the right time is crucial for flavor and quality. Follow the recommended maturity dates for each vegetable variety. Some crops, like root vegetables, can be left in the ground longer as the cool temperatures improve their taste. Others, like leafy greens, should be harvested promptly to avoid bitterness.

Preserve the Harvest

As the fall harvest comes in, you might find yourself with an abundance of produce. Consider preserving your bounty through methods like canning, freezing, or drying. This will allow you to enjoy your homegrown goodness throughout the winter months.

Clean Up and Prepare for Winter

Once the harvest season is over, take time to clean up your garden. Remove any remaining plant debris and weeds to prevent pests from overwintering. Consider covering your garden beds with a layer of compost or mulch to protect the soil during the cold months and improve its fertility for the next growing season.

Reflect and Plan Ahead

As you wrap up your fall gardening activities, take some time to reflect on what worked well and what could be improved. Make notes in a gardening journal to remember your successes and lessons learned. Use this information to plan your next year's fall garden with even more success in mind.

Enjoy the Fruits of Your Labor

Finally, remember to take a moment to enjoy the results of your hard work. Whether you're savoring a homegrown salad or admiring the colors of your fall garden, relish in the satisfaction that comes from nurturing a garden through its productive cycle.

In conclusion, fall gardening is a rewarding endeavor that offers a second chance to cultivate a successful harvest. By choosing the right crops, planning carefully, extending the growing season, and following these tips, you'll be well on your way to reaping the rewards of a bountiful fall garden. Stop by Red's Home & Garden this season for fall seedlings, pollinators and advice from our knowledgeable staff!

Starting Your Own Vegetable Garden: A Step-by-Step Guide

Posted on April 13, 2023 by escranton@proechosolutions.com

There is something very satisfying about growing your own vegetables. Picking ripe tomatoes for a salad or steaming fresh broccoli from your garden not only gives you fantastic-tasting food but provides a sense of accomplishment from consuming something you took time and care to cultivate. If you are new to the experience, you can assemble a thriving garden quickly. All you need is a little knowledge, and here are the steps to get you started.

Select a Spot for Your Garden

There are only a few requirements when choosing an ideal location for your garden. The primary goal is to pick a location with full sun where all the plants can have optimal growing conditions. It is also essential to have convenient access so that you can give your garden the regular attention it needs. Additionally, try to choose a spot that is level. It will make the garden easier to maintain and allow you to create a healthy environment for growing vegetables.

Plan Your Layout

The design you choose for your garden is as important as the location. The layout should be designed for both aesthetics and functionality. The primary concern is creating optimal conditions for the vegetables you grow. A simple and casual garden can have wide rows that make fertilizing, watering and harvesting a snap. If you plan on growing a more significant crop, reduce the spacing between rows to allow full use of the area.

Decide What To Grow

Deciding what you want to grow is a satisfying aspect of creating your new garden. You may be inclined to try to grow every vegetable you love, but limiting what you cultivate is essential. Select veggies that are challenging to purchase or concentrate on your favorites. For instance, if you are a tomato lover, expand with multiple varieties. This will ensure you are getting the most personal reward for your efforts.

Choose Seeds or Seedlings

When in the first stages of making a garden, know that using seeds for each plant you grow is only sometimes necessary. Although you may have particular hopes about what you choose to grow, starting your garden solely from seeds can take time and effort. Instead of nurturing tiny plants indoors until they are ready to cultivate outside, you can easily visit a garden center and select young plants already ready to incorporate into your garden.

Pick the Right Soil

A soil rich in nutrients and full of life is ideal for your garden to give the plants you are growing the energy they need to thrive. Inspect the earth and identify its characteristics. Check to see if it is dense, gritty, or dry. You may need to augment it by incorporating organic matter to ensure you provide a healthy environment for your vegetables. The ideal soil should have a rich, dark, moist and crumbly texture.

Prepare for Pests

Of course, you knew this would be a subject to address. Controlling pests is part of the package when you have a garden, but it does not need to be daunting. The last thing you want to do is spray your beautiful vegetables with pesticides. Instead, there are natural methods you can use to help mitigate pests. The first step is to control the weeds. Keep them in check by adding clean straw or mulch around larger plants. Keep pets and other animals out of your garden. Consult your local garden center for pertinent information about dealing with local insects and wildlife.

Get Inspiration to Start Your Amazing Garden Today!

Now that you have a plentiful bounty outside your door, you may be unable to consume everything. Freeze or can some veggies for winter and have fun sharing your efforts with people you know with a fresh basket or casserole. At Red's Home and Garden, we have all the supplies to inspire you and make your garden dreams come true. Contact us today to get in touch with our team of professionals to help you achieve your vision. Grab some tools and get started!

7 Mistakes New Gardeners Make – And How To Avoid Them

Posted on March 25, 2022April 6, 2022 by info@proechosolutions.com

Everyone is trying to find ways to save money on their food bill these days. Gardening can be a wonderful way to add variety and flavor to your menu. If you’re just starting a vegetable garden for the first time, watch out for these mistakes.

1. Planting Too Far From the Water Source

Water is the key ingredient you’ll need to add to your garden again and again. Make sure your garden beds have easy access to the hose. If you need to, get longer hoses or install a rain barrel near your garden to make it easy to keep the soil moist.

2. Planting in a Place Without Enough Sun

Water and sun are the two most vital elements to growing vegetables. When you’re planting your garden, it’s early spring, so the leaves on the trees may not be fully developed. That could mean too much shade once the leaves do fill in. You also may not realize that the sun’s trajectory may change over the summer. Check the plant tags to see how much sunlight they need. If you’re concerned about a shady garden, set your plants in containers that can be moved around to ensure they get enough sun.

3. Crowding Plants

When starting a vegetable garden, you get excited and want to plant everything you can imagine growing. However, putting too many plants in your space can reduce your harvest when vegetables don’t have room to expand. Check the space that each plant needs and make sure to give them plenty of room in your garden bed. A gardening guide can help you plan out your space more effectively.

4. Planting Your Garden Out of the Way

Putting your garden in a hidden corner in your yard might make you feel as if the clutter is out of the way, but it’s very easy to forget about it. Instead, plant your vegetables where you can see them when you sit on the patio or look out the window. A garden is a commitment, and putting it somewhere accessible helps you keep up with the day-to-day chores.

5. Not Checking the Soil Before You Plant

Plants need to be in healthy and nutritious soil. You can add fertilizer and other nutrients, but you have to know what your plants need and what is lacking in the soil to have healthy growth. Get your soil tested at your local university extension office or get a home garden soil test kit. Use a nutrient-rich soil additive to improve your dirt. You should probably check your soil annually to have the information you need each year to get a better yield from your garden.

6. Planting Too Soon

Even seasoned gardeners get cabin fever and want to get their seedlings into the garden. Many gardeners plant too soon because the warm, spring-like days make us want to get started growing. Unfortunately, the nighttime temperatures have to be warm enough to avoid a frost that can kill new plants. If you’re anxiously awaiting the day you can get your hands dirty, instead of setting out plants, keep yourself busy getting your garden beds prepared by aerating the soil or installing irrigation.

7. Forgetting to Harvest Plants

Beginners often want to wait to pick their harvest to ensure ripeness. Unfortunately, waiting too long to pick that cucumber or squash can lead to unsatisfactory produce. Some plants turn bitter and flavorless as they grow bigger. Those smaller zucchinis may not look impressive, but they will taste wonderful. Check your garden daily. Harvest vegetables and learn from your mistakes, whether it's picking too soon or too late. Your garden can enhance your meals. Let Red's Home & Garden help you get your garden started right. We have annuals, vegetable plants and potting soil to make your garden more successful. Shop today for unique greenhouse selections.