You’ll find plants that grow well here in Memphis like Arkansas Traveler Heirloom Tomatoes, Jalafuego Peppers, Fairy Tale Eggplants, Rabbiteye Blueberries and Tuscan Blue Rosemary.
I asked the Garden’s Urban Home Garden Curator, Owen Smith, to share his top 3 tips on planting a vegetable garden at home.
Feed your soil.
Focus on cultivating healthy, living soil in your gardens. A yearly application of 1 to 2 inches of finished compost on top will encourage a diverse community of fungi in your soil, which will greatly improve the health of your plants, resulting in less disease, greater pest resistance, and better harvests.
Timing and spacing.
Follow the directions that come with your plants or seeds. Consult local sources to determine the best time to plant. Also, planting at the correct spacing will ensure there is plenty of room to grow. A bed that looks sparse after planting will quickly become crowded after the weather warms up.
Get to know your plants.
Nature observation is one of your greatest tools in keeping a healthy garden. Be intentional about spending time there without working - observe your plants and pay attention to the birds and insects. Learn to identify the weeds and other wild plants growing in your garden. This is a great way to learn more about the ecology in your backyard, and you may end up noticing things that need to be done in your garden.
And one last tip. Plant flowers. Planting native flowers and herbs near your vegetables will attract pollinating and beneficial insect species that are integral to the success of your vegetables.
This is Jennifer Chandler with The Weekly Dish. Happy Gardening!
For more information about Memphis Botanic Garden, visit membg.org.
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