There are still several gardens available at Sunnyview County Farm.

They are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. You should call the Conservation District at 724-284-5270 if you want to plant in the garden.

Gardeners usually start planting around Memorial Day each year. This year, Memorial Day, a time to honor our fallen heroes, arrived early.

Many of us were not buying plants for cemeteries or for around the house in a timely manner because of the fear of frost. Now is the time to plant.

The Conservation District provides layout for 80 gardens at Sunnyview for anyone who agrees to plant and maintain it. We are thankful to Harold Foertsch for getting the gardens ready for spring planting. The gardeners then start planting and adding fertilizer or manure as needed. As vegetables grow, gardeners are responsible for keeping weeds under control.

Cultivation

Once the garden is planted, cultivation is one of the most important garden jobs.

Proper cultivation:

n Loosens the soil and permits the rain to soak in so none of it is lost.

n Preserves moisture by killing weeds which, if allowed to grow, would rob the crops of both moisture and plant food.

n Provides favorable conditions so beneficial bacteria in the soil can do their work.

Begin cultivation as soon as plants are up, provided the soil is not too wet. Cultivate as often as necessary to keep weeds under control.

Roots of many vegetables are near the surface and can be easily damaged by a hoe or cultivator if care is not taken when cultivating.

Watering

Are you watering your plants properly?

Although rainfall is a good source of water, there are usually some dry periods during the growing season when you will have to water your garden.

One thorough watering per week — equivalent to about an inch of rain — is enough. Also, a thorough watering should wet the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches.

Water early enough in the day so moisture on the plants will dry before dew appears. This will prevent disease.

Frequent light waterings encourage shallow rooting, which makes plants poor feeders and more vulnerable to being damaged by high winds. These plants also will suffer most severely in hot weather.

And remember, always apply water gently to the soil to avoid runoff.

Fresh vegetables always seem to taste better, especially when you do it yourself.

Ron Fodor is district manager of the Butler County Conservation District.