Garden Plans > 2018: TJR's Sunflower and vegetable garden
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My second annual attempt at a vegetable garden. With some pretty sunflowers for decoration.
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| Garden Location:
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Westminster, MD
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| Garden Size:
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12' 7" x 20' 3"
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| Garden Type:
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Backyard / back garden
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| Garden Layout:
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Traditional layout - rows etc
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| Sun or Shade:
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Sunny
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| Garden Soil Type:
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-
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Sunflowers like loose deep soil - 2 feet in depth and three feet across to let their roots grow well.
Sunflowers are heavy feeders so the soil needs to be nutrient-rich with organic matter or composted (aged) manure.
Or, work in a slow release granular fertilizer 8 inches deep into your soil.
Its best to sow sunflower seeds directly into the soil after the danger of spring frost is past. Ideally, the soil temperature has reached 55 to 60 degrees F.
Experiment with plantings staggered over 5 to 6 weeks to keep enjoying continuous blooms.
If you see birds scratching around for the seeds, spread netting over the planted area until seeds germinate.
Feed plants only sparingly; overfertilization can cause stems to break in the fall. You can add diluted fertilizer into the water, though avoid getting the fertilizer near the plants base
Pumpkins - Rich soil with plenty of compost added. Often grown in widely spaced enriched hills, or in layered compost heaps that include some soil.
Sow seeds 1 inch deep in hills spaced 6 feet apart. After 2 weeks, thin to 2 plants per hill.Pumpkins - Rich soil with plenty of compost added. Often grown in widely spaced enriched hills, or in layered compost heaps that include some soil.
Watermelon - Rich soil with plenty of compost added. Often grown in widely spaced enriched hills, r in wellaged compost heaps that include some soil.
After plants set fruit, feed twice at two-week intervals, with a water soluble plant food.
Sow seeds 1-inch deep in rows, or in hills spaced 6 feet apart. After 2 weeks, thin to 2 plants per hill.
Potatoes - fertile, well drained soil that not been amended with manure for at least 6 months.
No feeding if plants are deeply mulched with straw, grass clippings, rotted leaves, or another organic mulch.
Grow from sprouting potatoes or seed potatoes, cut into chunks so that each piece has 2 growing "eyes," or sprouts. Let the cut pieces dry for a day before planting 3 inches deep.
Cucumber - Well-drained soil enriched with plenty of compost.
Drench with a liquid organic fertilizer when plants begin to bloom heavily.
Use a trellis to save space, or you can let cucumbers ramble over mulched ground.
Pick cucumbers at least every other day by snipping them from the vine with pruning shears.
Use floating rowcovers to exclude cucumber beetles from transmitting bacterial wilt.
Carrot - Well drained soil rich in organic matter, but with no manure added prior to planting.
Soil quality is more essential than supplemental feeding.
Sow directly into soil in spring. Make a second sowing for a fall crop in mid-to-late summer
Keep plants well weeded to reduce competition for nutrient and water. Mulch over the tops of mature carrots to keep their shoulders from turning green.
Lettuce - Most soil types, but best in moisture retentive soil with some compost dug in.
Scatter seeds atop prepared soil, about one-half inch apart and barely cover them before patting into place Sow more seed summer for a fall crop.
No feeding required.
Shallow lettuce roots need constant moisture. Do not allow the soil to dry out.
Tomato - Rich soil with plenty of compost mixed in before planting.
Weekly liquid feed or seaweed drench from mid summer onwards.
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Garden Plan
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Plant List
Planting Times
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