D.G. Cassiano Excavating, LLC

Gardening pointers for novices

People have many reasons for growing gardens, and some of the most popular gardens are plots designated for cultivating herbs and vegetables. Fresh produce at the ready is a great benefit of having a home garden, which also allows homeowners to exercise full control over which products to use to grow robust, healthy vegetables. Novice gardeners may not know where to begin when it comes to planting their first vegetable gardens,andsuchgardenerscan benefit by starting small. You may want to begin by growing plants in containers so they are more manageable and can be moved as you discover which areas of your property provide the best growing conditions.

Begin with one or two types of vegetables.Tomatoes,cucumbers and certain squashes are popular starterplants,astheyarerelatively hardy. Select only a few plants so you are not overwhelmed with the level of care required to maintain your garden.

Some gardeners prefer to start plants from seeds, but this will require more time and a greater commitment with regard to maintenance and planting. When just starting out, experiment with small plants that are established and already have a good root system.

Consult with your local gardening centerformoresuggestions,such as which soil amendments to use. Plants may require a certain soil pH that can be adjusted for optimal plant growth.

I like to use my compost for gardening but I have no idea how much to mix with my soil. NoideaonapHlevel!Help!!

Compost is an excellent garden soil amendment to use every gardening season and should be added starting early before planting. It also can be added as a mulch as your plants begin to grow and produce. Compost improves the tilth (workability) of the soil and acts like a slow-release fertilizer for your plants.

Most good garden soil has around

4% compost. I like to use about 10% in my gardening, which works out to adding about 1 inch of compost worked into the top 9 inches of soil. Mature, finished compost acts like a buffer to soil pH.Unfinished compost produces amino (organic) acids as the low-temperature bacteria break down the compost. Mature compost becomes more neutral (between 6-8 pH) as mesophile bacteria take over. Most garden plants require a soil pH of between 6 and 7. You can get soil test kits, testing meters, and paper test strips and test your soil yourself, or you can contact your local county Cooperative Extension office for more information.

Any recommendations on getting rid of spinach worms?

The “spinach worms” you have are likely a variety of caterpillar. They can be treated effectively with an organic substance called Bacillus Thuringiensis, often called BT. This is a common product in garden centers. Follow all instructions on the label closely.