| By WTJX Channel 12,on February 1st,2012 Tip:The benefits of using transplants.
Some vegetables such as tomatoes,peppers,eggplant,cabbage,broccoli and cauliflower should be transplanted as small plants rather than planted as seed. Transplants will grow in soil that is too cool for seed to germinate. The use of transplants shortens the period to harvest and allows the gardener to complete a crop before it gets too hot. Always remove plastic or paper pots from transplants and crack peat pots so allowing roots to grow easily and unrestricted into the soil. Tip:Plant food is a boost in early plant growth.
A starter solution helps plants grow quickly by providing nutrients to the plant quickly. Make a solution by mixing one tablespoon of a soluble fertilizer such as 10-20-10,in one gallon of water. Pour 1 cup of this solution around each plant as you set it out. By WTJX Channel 12,on January 1st,2012 Tip:Natural additives give better results.
Compost is a soil conditioner. It releases small amounts of plant nutrients and essential trace elements slowly throughout the growing season. It also helps latch onto nutrients added in the form of fertilizer and prevents them from leaching out of the soil. Some chemical fertilizers release elements so quickly that rain can leach them away before plants derive much benefit. Tip:Big things sometimes come in small packages.
Small garden plots can be prepared for planting by using a spade,shovel or spading fork to turn the soil. Turn the soil to a depth of 6 to 7 inch. Use a small tractor or garden tiller for larger gardens. By WTJX Channel 12,on December 1st,2011 Tip:Broadcast fertilizer applications helps with crop development.
Under the row applications may be done by opening a furrow 3-4 inches deep,placing the fertilizer in the bottom of the furrow,mixing it with the soil,and then levelling or filling in the furrow. The fertilizer could be placed in bands at one or both sides of the row. Apply mixed fertilizer ten days to two weeks before planting seed or setting plants. Make broadcast fertilizer applications on the garden soil after spading or plowing,then work into the soil as the ground is raked and levelled. Tip:Too much water results in damaged crops.
While water is essential for plant growth,it is possible to overwater. Plant roots need air as well as water and are not able to get enough air when flooded. We often see landscape plants die during the summer months due to overwatering rather than under watering. Use the container method to determine how much water you are applying and don’t apply more than 2 inches of water per week. There should never be standing water in a flower bed or garden. By WTJX Channel 12,on November 1st,2011 Tip:Use of good seed is very important.
Buy only from dealers that keep their seeds in cool dry places preferably in are refrigerator. Seeds left in the warm conditions will rapidly lose their vigor or ability to germinate. Check the seed package for date they were packaged. Seeds dated with the current year usually have a very high rate of germination. High germination rates usually results in good quality plants. Good quality plants result in good yields. If seed packages are dated more than 3 years old more than likely have lost their vigor and should not be purchased. Tip:There is a time and place for everything.
Some crops grow better depending on the time of year they are grown. In the tropics,most crops can be grown all year round. However,in the Virgin Islands the best yields are obtained between late October and late March. This is coolest time of the year and the pest pressure is reduced somewhat. Broccoli,cauliflower,cabbage leaf lettuce,and celery thrive best. Other crops do really well at that time of year with the exception of corn that prefers longer days. By WTJX Channel 12,on October 3rd,2011 Tip:“Thin is in” even for plants.
It is often necessary to thin a stand for individual plants to develop satisfactorily. This is especially so of the fine seed crops where a surplus of seed should be planted to obtain a stand. Lettuce,onions,and beets should be thinned to allow the remaining plants to grow and properly develop. Tip:Poor soil can be improved
Even poor quality soil can be improved by an annual application of organic matter. At least one inch of organic matter should be added to the soil each year to improve the quality of your soil. In the Virgin Islands,clay soils are the dominant soil type and organic matter content can be low. This tends to make the soil hard and difficult to cultivate. Organic matter can include straw,hay,farm animal dried manures,(sheep,goat,chicken,cow,etc.) compost and bedding from stables. | Channel 12 Program Schedule- Sundays at 10:30AM
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