Vegetable Gardening Guide in Garland County, Arkansas

Different types of plants require different growing conditions in order to grow. Some plants need ample amounts of sunlight and high temperatures in order to grow while others require less sunlight and would need low temperatures to survive. There are also other factors that go into the growth of your plants like soil nutrition, type of seed planted, and amount of water.

Several factors that factor into a vegetable’s growth will be laid out in this article in order to help you start your vegetable garden as well as techniques in helping you maintain your garden.

Vegetables for the Season

Do you remember the saying that fruits are harvested at the proper season? Plants should also be planted in the proper season, too. This could be caused by the differences in the temperatures of each season, which is why some plants that grow well during springtime may grow better in the summer. Conversely, some plants that seem to grow well during the spring may also perform poorly in the summer.

The Division of Agriculture at the University of Arkansas released a planting guide that can be used to approximate the date of planting and days to maturity for various summer, spring, and autumn vegetables.

* Data provided by the Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas

* Data provided by the Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas

It is also important to note that most of these plants should never be planted directly onto your outside plot. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach and cabbage should be planted first indoors then transplanted onto the garden after 5-6 weeks. Do the same for tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants.

Plants like beans, onions, potatoes, cowpeas, corn, squashes, cucumbers, watermelons, gourds, and sunflowers can be planted directly into your garden.

It is important to note that if your space is limited, then you should plant want you and your family likes while keeping nutrition in mind. Choose a variety that is well adapted to the Arkansas environment. Draw out a diagram to know if you have the space necessary for the quantity you want. Don’t forget repeat plantings to keep the garden full for its most efficient use.

Site Selection

If you still have considerable space and you’re looking for a place for where your garden is going to be, then you should consider several factors, namely: amount of sunlight, vegetation currently present, and drainage.

Sunlight. Ample sunlight is essential to a plant’s growth. Although plants like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower tolerate shade, they will still require ample sunlight. Tomatoes, corn, peppers, cucumbers, root crops, and melons need full sunlight.

Vegetation present. If your intended garden space already contains plenty of other plants, shrubs, or trees, then chances are you’re going to need plenty of nutrient inputs to sustain the growth of your vegetables since trees and other forms of vegetation will compete with your plants for nutrients and moisture, not to mention the lesser amount of sunlight they’ll be getting because of all the shade.

Drainage. Gardens located on slight slopes are very desirable because they can be a source of water as well as serve as drainage for excessive rains. Contour the rows to the shape of the slope.

Garden Alternatives

Aside from the typical bed and plot on the ground, you can also opt to use alternatives such as raised beds and container gardens. These are great ways to be able to make use of spaces especially if there is a limited amount of soil and there is no drainage. One great way for providing additional nutrition to your soil is through adding piles of leaves from trees that you’ve gathered on the bed right before the soil is added.