Do It Yourself Companion Planting


summer, the eggplant, melons, sweet potatoes and tomatoes will do especially well.


TIP: When planting tomatoes starts, WAIT for the soil to warm


up before you transplant them in the ground. Just be patient. They really don’t like “cold toes” and will significantly slow down if you hurry to get them in the ground. In addition, if you can place your tomatoes near a heat sink – think of a big boulder, or southern- facing wall – do so. They’ll love the heat source throughout the season.


Sunlight By Meredith Sorensen


energy spikes. The same holds true in the garden: plants respond to inputs including temperatures, sunlight, soil composition, and adjacent plants. Entire books are written on each of these topics. This article strives to provide some general context and simple ad- vice to help beginning do-it-yourself gardeners make good choices for their landscape.


O


Temperature When growing vegetables, take note of the temperature of the soil. I personally do not bother with a thermometer. Instead, the poking up of the earliest perennials of my landscape – asparagus, rhubarb, plus the cheerful springtime greeting by crocuses, hya- cinth and daffodils – signal that the soil has started warming up. I know it’s time to get going with my cool season crops that thrive in cooler soil temperatures, such as beets, Brussels sprouts, kale, onions, and peas. Then it will be time to grow warmer season crops that thrive with higher daytime temperatures such as snap beans, corn, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, and squash. If it’s an extra hot


ur bodies respond to what we put in them. Drink a frozen beverage too quickly? Brain freeze! Consume lactose or sugar? Get ready for potentially gassy conditions and


Related to soil temperature but worth calling out on its own, the amount of sunlight a space gets clearly impacts growth cycles. Spots in your yard that get partial sun or partial shade (defined as 3 to 6 hours of direct sunlight) will be a better fit for certain plants such as arugula, beets, and spinach. The areas of your landscape that get full sun (defined as at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun each day) will benefit tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash, and beans. Thankfully, nature is forgiving and usually finds a way to grow regardless of the light conditions.


TIP: For raised beds, if you have to choose an eastern versus western exposure go with the spot with eastern exposure. The morning sun will dry off the evening dew, which reduces leaf rot, and your raised bed won’t get zapped in the glare of the afternoon sun.


Soil Composition If you support your soil, it will support you and help your


plants overcome any sensitivities or weaknesses they may have. In general, you want dark, rich, fluffy soil with good tilth and some organic content. Nearly all soils benefit from regular topdressings of compost, a layer of mulch, cover crops, and pathways.


TIP: Give your garden the gift of a 1-2” layer of mulch. It will


have the immediate benefit of making the space look great. It will have the ongoing benefit of reducing weeds, slowly adding nutri- ents to the soil, and helping maintain steady temperatures.


Companion Planting This is where we get to the elaborate dance of the veggie garden. I liken companion planting to figuring out a seating chart


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