Photography location: The Forest Flower TheForestFlower.com
S HOPEFUL GARDENING Tips from a Master Gardener to boost your success words: Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp photography: Marissa Molloy
ure things and gardening rarely go together, primarily because so much is out of the gardenerಬs control. Rain, sun and temperature belong to Mother Nature alone. However, there are steps gardeners can take to boost their success at growing their own vegetables, fruits and flowers. Perhaps, these steps might even give you a green thumb. A bit of advice: Start small.
Location Vegetable gardens need at least six hours of direct sun every day. Eight hours is best. Orient the garden to run east to west. This allows for the most sun. Some vegetables, such as lettuces, spinach and other greens, can thrive in partial sun, usually four to five hours daily. Most flowers also do best in partial to full sun. However, there are many annuals and perennials that thrive in shade as well.
Soil Prep The health and productivity of your vegetable plants are tied to the health of the soil. The easiest way to get good soil is to order a planterಬs mix from a local landscape supplier. Planterಬs mix contains soil, compost and other organic ingredients. Share with the landscape supplier the dimensions of your garden and the depth youಬd like to plant (8 to 10 inches), and they will be able to tell you how many cubic yards youಬll need.
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edible INDY Summer 2022
