Harvesting — The main reason for a home garden is to produce high-quality vegetables. Harvest often to get vegetables at the proper stage of maturity. If beans, okra, cucumbers, etc., are left to mature fully, the plant will stop producing. Early morning harvest, before vegetables absorb heat from the sun, is best for most vegetables. Freeze or can the surplus if you want to enjoy your garden all year.

Lime And Fertilizer — A soil test is the best way to determine lime and fertilizer needs. Your county Extension office has information about soil tests. Testing at least every 3 years is a good idea.

For most vegetables, the soil pH should be around 6.0 to 6.5. To be effective, the lime must be mixed into the soil before planting.

If you don’t soil test, use enough fertilizer to supply 120 pounds per acre each of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P2O5), and potassium (K2O). This could be supplied by using 1,000 pounds of 4-12-12 plus 250 pounds of ammonium nitrate. For each 1,000 square feet of garden area, use 25 pounds of 4-12-12 and 6 pounds of ammonium nitrate. On 100 feet of row, you would use 4 quarts (8 pounds) of 4-12-12 and 1 quart (2 pounds) of ammonium nitrate. When fertilizer is applied in the row, mix it thoroughly with the soil before planting.

Another method to get the same amount of plant food would be to use 1,500 pounds of 8-8-8 per acre. On 1,000 square feet, apply 25 pounds of 8-8-8 broadcast before land preparation; then sidedress each 100 feet of row with 2 quarts (4 pounds) of 8-8-8.

Long-season crops such as tomatoes, cabbage, pepper, okra, and potatoes need more fertilizer than short-season crops. Experience and close observation are the best guides for additional sidedressing.

Weed Control — To control weeds, use a mulch. Deep cultivation after plants are older will do more damage than good. Chemical weed killers are not usually recommended for home gardens. Before using a weed control product, get full information on how to use it and what crop it should be used on.

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