What the zone is going on here?!

Well, it’s not just for veggie gardens. These tips are ones I have accumulated over 10 years of growing fruits and vegetables in a home garden. I live in the Northeast region of the US, which sets my soil hardness at Zone 6b.

Look up your soil hardness over here: https://garden.org/nga/zipzone/index.php

What the heck even is a zone? Why do I care about soil hardness anyway? Here is why:

1. Root Penetration and Growth: Hard soil restricts root spread, leading to stunted growth and poor root health, making plants more susceptible to diseases.

2. Water Infiltration and Drainage: Compacted soil impedes water absorption and drainage, causing inefficient watering, potential drought stress, and waterlogging, leading to root rot.

3. Aeration and Gas Exchange: Reduced pore space in hard soil limits oxygen availability for roots and inhibits gas exchange, negatively affecting soil microbial activity and plant respiration.

4. Nutrient Availability: Compacted soil hampers nutrient uptake by roots and decreases microbial activity essential for nutrient cycling, leading to potential nutrient deficiencies.

5. Plant Stability: Well-developed root systems provide better support for plants. Hard soil can weaken roots, making plants more prone to being uprooted by wind or heavy rain.

The Top Tips for the Best Veggie Garden

Place pollinator plants between your veggies: I started doing this two years ago and noticed a massive difference in my plant growth and excellent insect activity for defenses. I plant a pollinator-like Borage in the middle of four plants. Think of the five sides of a dice cube, with the middle dot being the pollinator.

Give your plants a layer of straw or coconut core mulch: Mulch really does help keep moisture up and near the soil longer. This has made a massive difference in helping conserve water and ensuring the plants get what they need. If you haven’t done this before, it is a true game-changer.

Check the soil before watering: Stick your finger into the soil an inch deep; if it’s wet, don’t water, if its dry, give a heavy soak. After you have watered, wait 5-10 minutes and recheck the same as before to make sure you watered enough.

If a veggie becomes to mature for eating, save the seeds: Life comes up sometimes and we forget about our garden. If you start to have a plant that has gone past, just let it go and allow it to produce seeds. For veggies, its a simple process of extracting the seeds and drying out in the sun or paper towel.

That’s it for now! If you have any specific questions or want to hear more about a certain topic, please email me at: [email protected]