- Grass. Pros: It's soft and comfortable to kneel on.Cons: Grass must be mowed, can overtake areas where vegetables are growing.
- Stone, brick or concrete. Pros: These materials absorb sunlight, which keeps the ground warm at night.
- Mulch. Pros: Soil reaps benefits from being mulched. Con: Mulch provides a place for bugs to hide. Mulch need to be replenished during the season.
Pathways should be wide enough to walk through, and perhaps wide enough for a garden cart (2' is preferable, space permitting).
Q: I am growing broccoli for the first time. There is a long stalk with flowers that has grown off the main plant. What is this, and what can I do to correct it?
A: That is called bolting, and it's very common in plants like broccoli and cauliflower. It occurs because the plant may have been planted too early and thus was fairly mature before the temperatures stabled out. This caused it to be exposed to both cold and hot weather. Bolting causes bitterness in plants, so you need to get rid of any affected plants. And remember not to set new plants out too early next season.
Q: We have raccoons in my area, and they like to feed on corn and other vegetables in my garden. How can I discourage them?
A: Some animals are very hard to ward off, but you do have some options in this case. Raccoons are not the jumpers or climbers that deer are -- and they don't fly like birds -- so you may want to start with a fence. Build one that is at least 6' tall, and electrify it.
Also, you might try planting cucumbers, squash or pumpkins between rows -- raccoons don't like the prickly plants and will avoid them.
Time-Saver Tip: Weeding is a garden chore that most people detest, and it takes a lot of time to do it. I've got a way you can cut back on that task: Grow vegetables such as potatoes in garbage bags filled with dirt. It reduces the need for weeding and saves you time -- and the crops love the warm soil.
