Talking Plants

Jillian Patrie | University of Minnesota Yard and Garden Extension
May is here and it is time to plant garden vegetables and decorate patios with containers and hanging baskets.  Starting plants off on the right foot will lead to successful gardening.  Here are a few tips and things to consider while planting this growing season.
Soil is important for plant health and choosing the right mix and maintaining key nutrients can make or break a successful year.  If container gardening is your style, choose a potting mix or raised bed mix that’s right.  Potting mixes are composed of peat moss, compost, perlite, and vermiculite.  When searching for a container mix at the store, refer to the bag for more information.  Weight and “ingredients” will help you choose the appropriate mix.  Most potting mixes will be light weight and “Potting Soil” is listed on the bag; this soil is intended for container use.   Raised bed mixes and garden soils are other bagged soils you will see at the store. Bags that say “garden soil” should be used when planting in the ground and are often too heavy for pots or elevated garden boxes.  You may see bagged topsoil in the aisle too, this should be used for seeding lawns or patching spots in your yard, it is also too heavy for pots or elevated garden boxes.  Avoid using soil dug directly from your garden or yard, Red River Valley soil is too heavy for containers. Heavy soils become compact in containers and restrict air and water movement that is needed for healthy plant growth.
Fertilizer is an important component of plant health and production.  Containers will need to be fertilized frequently throughout the season.  A slow-release fertilizer mixed into the soil before planting and a liquid fertilizer used at watering is best.  When fertilizing raised bed gardens, incorporate compost in the soil before planting, use a granular fertilizer at planting time and 1-2 times monthly throughout the season.  Granular fertilizer can be applied around each plant or along rows, make sure to follow the use recommendations on the package to avoid burning plant roots.
Rain barrels, city or well water and rainfall can all be sources for watering gardens and containers. When hand watering or using a sprinkler there are a few strategies to keep in mind.  Water gardens and containers in the morning, if possible, this allows plant leaves to dry out through the day (evening watering is fine if needed).  Try to water at the base of plants, avoiding wetting the leaves.  Keeping water off leaves will help with diseases caused by fungi that thrive in wet conditions.  Avoid watering in the mid to late afternoon sun, water sitting on leaves in intense afternoon sun can cause damage.
Keeping weeds down and checking for insects or diseases regularly will ensure a successful gardening season as well.  If you find garden pests, it’s best to identify the pest before treating.  There are many beneficial insects in a garden that can be harmed by pesticide applications.

If you need help identifying a garden pest or have questions about this article, contact your local Clay County Extension Educator Jill Patrie by email patri350@umn.edu or by phone at 218-299-7338.  You can also visit https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden for more information.