The last thing you want to do in the spring is put your gardening dreams on hold. With short growing seasons and limited sunlight, it’s important that every day counts if we want our gardens to be healthy this season!
A longer growing season is a better investment. It will generate more food, which means you can put money in your pocket and feed everyone!
Here are 12 easy ways that extend the life of your garden:
1.Know Your Climate and Microclimate
If you are interested in growing more than just a few types of plants, it is important to take into account the variety and climate that your location offers. After all plants have their own unique needs when considering what they prefer for growth conditions such as light exposure, or water retention capacity.
Trees and building shade can have a huge impact on the environment. Make sure you record how these factors affect your plants in specific areas – which drain well, but may be more susceptible to frost? Keep track so that when it comes time for planting season, all will go according to plan!
2. Plant More Frequently
With successive planting, you can extend your harvest season and discourage weeds.
Here are three methods for the process:
- The best way to ensure that your plants grow healthily and thrive is by setting them at the right time. When you sow seeds, make sure they’re all of an identical variety so their needs can be met simultaneously.
- Some plants need to be replanted periodically because they often grow more than one inch per day. If you are growing radishes, sow them once a week and watch as their height increases over time! Sow quick-growing legumes like green peas or edible beans every two weeks; make sure there’s enough space between rows for them all the way through maturity.
- For a more abundant harvest, plant seeds of different varieties that mature at varying rates. These include: peas, corn, or lettuce, for example.
- It’s easy to change up your veggie selection with the changing seasons. Get rid of those springtime crops and replace them with summer veggies this time around!
3. Weed Early and Often
You can extend your harvest by attacking weeds early in the season. Weeds flourish once you work soil, so remove them as soon they sprout and then continue to do this every week or two until it’s time for winter – use mulch if needed!
4. Plant in Raised Beds
Raised beds are a great way to cut down on the weeds that can hurt your growing season. They require less tilling, meaning you’ll have fewer problems with unwanted plants and their pesky roots!
5. Build Trellises
Have you ever considered trellising your garden? You can use this technique to grow more produce in a small space. There are several types of plants that need less room and will be easier to manage on a wireframe than they would if growing vertically from the ground up, such as peas or beans for example!
6. Rotate Crops
Rotated crops tend to produce more food over a longer period of time than plants grown in the same soil.
7. Water Wisely
One of the most common problems in gardening is watering. Overwatering can lead to a shorter growing season and may cause root rot, so it’s important for you not only take time out during your day, but also think about how often they need water throughout each week.
Some watering tips include:
- Squeeze a handful of soil. If it crumbles in your palm when you open up, then that means the dirt is too dry! Water early in order for the plants to have time to absorb all their moisture.
- By doing so, you will discourage bacteria and fungi crawling up your beautiful plants.
8. Be a Weather Watcher
With an early frost, you may have just missed your chance at planting. Don’t let this discourage you! Keep a weather eye out and cover the plants on chilly nights with floating row covers or plastic ones that will keep air from reaching them while letting light in during day-time hours.
Check seed packets for what conditions are optimal; consider investing in soil thermometers too if needed to monitor ground temperature (especially around root systems).
9. Create a Cold Frame
A cold frame is an enclosed area with a clear top that lets in sunlight. It’s another way to protect your plants from chilly nighttime temperatures, and you can make one by placing an old window over the bottomless box made of stacked cinder blocks or bricks!
Here’s how:
10. Use Cloches
A cloche is a simple cover to protect your plant. You can make it with milk jugs cut off or salad greens containers that take-out lunches come in, and there’s no limit on how many you need!
It works as an ideal mini greenhouse for any garden plants because they’re so lightweight – we’ve seen some people even use empty film covers from Dunkin Donuts boxes with good results too!
11. Build a Greenhouse
A greenhouse is an excellent way to extend your growing season and have all sorts of fruits, veggies, flowers or herbs year long. There are many models available for purchase at any home improvement store as well as DIY kits you can buy online!
Check out this helpful video:
12. Start Seeds Indoors
Starting your seeds indoors is a great way to get an early start on gardening. Not only will you save money by not buying seedlings, but the plants that grow from house-grown varieties are often healthier and stronger than those at stores too!