September Gardening Guide By Patricia Porchey

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September Gardening Guide. By: Patricia Porchey. This is the time of year when we’re in a gardening frame of mind, that is - vegetable. gardening. …

Website: sarasota.extension.ufl.edu | Filesize: 22kb

Content
September Gardening Guide
By: Patricia Porchey
This is the time of year when we’re in a gardening frame of mind, that is - vegetable
gardening. While northern gardeners are harvesting the last of their crops, we’re just
getting ready to plant our fall gardens.
Bed preparation is key to a bountiful garden. All of those vigorous-growing weeds have
to be removed. Tilling or turning the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches can smother many
weeds. However, deeply anchored woody-stemmed weeds with extensive roots,
perennial grasses, and bulbous plants, such as nut grass, may need to be removed by
hand. Organic amendments such as compost, humus, and composted manures should be
incorporated into our sandy soils to better retain water and nutrients. Once you’ve
planted, remember to add mulch around the plants to discourage future weeds.
If your planting area is limited and there’s no room for an official vegetable garden,
consider using containers for growing your herbs and vegetables. It’s important to use a
good quality soilless potting mix and make sure there are drainage holes in your
containers. Watering and fertilizer will need to be applied more frequently as it leaches
through more quickly in…