- Marigolds and herbs work well: basil, coriander, marjoram and thyme all repel pests, so plant them among the vegetables.
- Other plants such as nasturtiums and dill will attract pests, so you should plant them as a border, and then watch for the pests and get rid of them.
Q: When should I harvest the vegetables in the garden? It seems I always wait until they are a bit too mature.
A: For the most part, the rule of thumb is that it's better to harvest a little early than a little late. Most plants are not nearly as tasty when they've gone past their peak maturity.
Here's some more information you may find useful:
- To ensure good flavor and texture, harvest early and often.
- Mark you calendar for the expected date of maturity, and check you plants about a week before that date.
- The more you harvest, the more you'll have in a lot of cases. If you don't harvest, the plants will go to seed, and you'll have less fruit.
Q: I want to grow corn this year in my garden, but I don't want to have problems with other plants due to shade. Where should I plant the corn?
A: Corn can shade shorter plants if it's planted too closely, but planted in the right place, it's a great addition to most vegetable gardens.
Here are a few tips for growing healthy corn:
- It looks best if taller plants are planted in the back of the garden.
- Plant corn in the north end of the garden to prevent its shading other plants.
- Remember to leave yourself space to get between rows.
Money-Saver Tip:
When you plant rows of vegetables, you want your spacing to be correct, but that's not always easy to do without a guide. Save time by using milk jugs and string to help you plant straight rows in your garden. Fill two milk jugs with water and tie string to their handles. Then place a jug at one end of a row and the second jug at the other end, stretching the string out. Plant each row under the string all the way down the row.
