Perspective

It’s not too late to plant a garden

May 31, 2020 by PEMCO Insurance

With school-at-home duties winding down, now's a great time to get out in the dirt with the kids and (secretly!) improve their eating habits. In many parts of the Northwest, you still have a substantial growing season ahead and, despite runs on seed supplies early in the season, online retailers like the Northwest's own Territorial Seed Company are again accepting orders and have many varieties in stock.

Some later-season planting suggestions from our gardening gurus: Leafy greens like lettuce and spinach, sturdy greens like kale and cabbage, radishes, carrots, beets, chives and green onions. The trick is checking seed packets to see typical days to harvest and then selecting crops that have a fairly short maturation time. You'll want to be mindful of first-frost dates in your area (find dates for your Washington and Oregon town) and count backwards.

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Since you'll be planting during warmer weather, you'll also want to check out these tips for creating a water-wise garden:

1. Mulch more. Soil rich in organic matter holds water better. Add compost like grass clippings, leaves and other organic matter to the soil before you plant

2. Don't water the weeds. Weeds compete with your plants for water. To get an unruly patch under control, set a timer and pluck for 20 minutes every day. Then stop. The short session will save you from feeling overwhelmed (not to mention straining your back) and when you stick to it, you'll soon see results in healthier plants and reduced water consumption.

3. Water only where it's needed. Swap sprinklers (notorious for watering sidewalks and driveways) for drip lines and soaker hoses. They slowly seep water right at the plants' roots and work especially well for straight rows on level ground. Run the water long enough that it penetrates two or three inches into the soil. Since the holes in the hose are tiny, they sometimes can get clogged with soil, so check periodically for dry patches in the garden.

4. Consider a sunken garden. Make the most of scant summer rainfall and provide a shady berm around plants' roots. In two- or three-foot squares, excavate soil into ridges along planting areas – like a giant dirt waffle – and scatter seeds in the depressions of the waffle. Those depressions hold water better than a completely flat planting area.

5. Use a rain barrel. Collect rainwater from your downspouts to irrigate your plants. You can buy a rain barrel at a garden store or build one yourself out of a plastic garbage can and PVC pipe. Put it on a stable, elevated surface so gravity will give you some water pressure. (Be sure to check with your homeowners association for possible restrictions.)

6. Sprinkle at night. If you have an automatic sprinkler system, set it to go off at night, when evaporation is low. Also, set circuits to run multiple cycles in short bursts so the water can soak in two or three inches rather than running off. You'll need to adjust for weather conditions and type of crop – sometimes as little as twice a week for established plants (three or four times for new plantings until roots are established) or daily if the weather is especially hot or plants are in full sun.

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