6 MUSTS for a thriving garden!
Feed your food.
We have used Garden-tone fertilizer because it is easy to find and OMRI-approved. It's simple and safe for kids to garden with when used properly.
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Use proper raised bed soil.
If you use the wrong soil, you could add too much weight to an above-ground unit, causing your garden to be too dry, too wet, or too compact to drain properly.
Soil is an investment, but it costs less overall to make your own mix. We have used Mel's Mix for years.
https://squarefootgardening.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/square-foot_mels-mix-chart.pdf
Get the right level of sun.
Part sun- 3 to 6 (max) hours of morning sun or 3 hours of afternoon sun
Full sun- 6 or more hours of sun
The wrong level of sun will kill the plants or severely stunt their growth. Do not mix plants with different requirements for sun in the same area. You will have to check for shadows in your planned garden area at the beginning and end of the sun time window and the season you are planting to ensure your plant has access to the full time needed.
Water every morning.
Water every morning in Florida if it has not yet rained. Do not wait for rain. Raised beds dry out quicker. Water before roots get too dry and burn, and in the early morning, to conserve the evaporation of the sprinkler water. Plants allowed to dehydrate and droop regularly will be more vulnerable to pests, diseases, and the fruit could rot on the vine. Watering too late in the day promotes fungal disease. The birds and butterflies enjoy the morning mist and often play in it.
Have pest control on standby.
We have been known to vacuum leaf-foot bugs right off the plant, pluck vine borer eggs off squash plants, and pinch aphids on milkweed host plants with willing boy participants. A very educational, organic, and effective method.
But rest assured, your garden will be under attack at some point and will need a few resources readily available. Some caterpillars are not garden-friendly. We use a bacterial spray for tomato hornworms and worms on squash. The large worms can munch on a plant significantly in one day. Do not worry, we do not spray this anywhere near plants that are host food for our good caterpillars. It is OMRI approved. It's simple and safe for kids to garden with when used properly. Treat at the first sign of the wrong caterpillar.
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For other pests, a soap spray is sufficient.
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Have fungus control on standby
We find evidence of fungus in the hottest most stressful parts of the summer heat. We begin prevention during those times and keep watch, managing and treating the fungus usually found on our tomatoes and squash. It is OMRI approved. It's simple and safe for kids to garden with when used properly.
*Disclosure: We earn a commission when you make a purchase through provided links. They are products we honestly use.