Fundamental gardening practices boost success
Butler County's unpredictable spring weather has a significant influence on gardening practices, including planting and harvesting schedules.
Last year's weather results certainly have implications for gardening practices into 2020 that gardeners should take into account. Nighttime temperatures and precipitation usually dictate when a gardener can first turn over the soil and plant seedlings along with tender plants with some confidence that the plants will survive.
In 2019, home gardeners had mixed results with their vegetable gardens. April 2019 temperatures ranged from a low of 44 degrees to a high of 63 degrees, making an ideal climate for cold crops planted under row covers. Broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage and kohlrabi are examples of cold crops that can be started indoors around mid-February so that the plants have a nice-size stem and well-developed leaves to withstand spring transplanting. While some cold crops can withstand a frost, however, the best practice is to secure the plants with row covers until frost is no longer an issue.
Removing the cold crop row covers after the second week of May can trigger vegetable growth, with harvesting completed by mid-June. The garden space used for the cold crops can now be available for the warmer crops such as beans, cucumbers, peppers and zucchini.
Temperatures in May 2019 ranged from a low of 55 degrees to a high of 72 degrees with 5.5 inches of precipitation.
Tomato plants transplanted under row covers in early May grew fast with an abundant amount of blossoms when row covers were removed in early June. However, June was a soggy month with 6.3 inches of rain and temperatures ranging from 59 degrees to 77 degrees. Fruiting was delayed, and some gardeners saw early blight conditions.
The weather in July 2019 continued to be damp, with rainfall at 6.9 inches. As a result, garden soil became compacted, and plant roots could not dry out. Many gardeners replanted beans, onions and zucchini, since their initial planting failed in the soggy and cool soil.
Weather conditions in August 2019 improved, with temperatures ranging from 63 degrees to 80 degrees, with 2.5 inches of rainfall. Tomatoes not exhibiting blight conditions grew well, were producing in early September, and were abundant into October. Peppers were productive in September, once new August blossoms developed.
Weather temperature and precipitation affect garden vegetable growth and production. Using fundamental gardening practices can improve garden success for 2020.Locate the vegetable garden in an area that receives eight to 10 hours of sunlight daily. Avoid shade produced from large trees or structures. Soil from new vegetable gardens should be tested to accurately amend the soil. Penn State Extension offers soil test kits for purchase.Cultivate soil to keep it loose and well-drained. Space vegetable plants so there is enough air circulation and room to grow. Because hungry deer and smaller wildlife find vegetable gardens tasty, protect the garden with fencing.Throughout the growing season, remove weeds diligently, and prune plants as needed. Support tall and full plants with stakes and trellises. Observe and consistently monitor for insect damage as well as bacterial and fungal issues.Consistently add organic matter to the soil to suppress weeds and provide nutrients. Start 2020 with a plan for vegetable crops, and garden with the weather in mind.For another article on preparing for the 2020 growing season, visit the Penn State Extension link at https://extension.psu.edu/getting-your-vegetable-garden-ready-for-springIf you have questions about vegetable gardening call the Master Gardener Garden Hotline at 724-287-4761, Ext. 7, or email the Master Gardeners at butlermg@psu.edu.Lew Palka has been a Penn State Master Gardener since 2018 and lives in Cranberry Township.
