How to Extend the Growing Period of Your Garden

Many gardeners wish they had a longer period of time in which to work in their gardens. Usually, they are at the mercy of the seasons. But, whether you want to get an earlier harvest or prolong the harvest season well into the fall, there is a way to get you there. Here are some tips on methods that can be used to extend the growing period for your garden.

One of the easiest ways to extend the growing period or your garden is to use a cold frame to get plants started. This is very simple to construct. All you need is some type of frame and a form of insulation to go over the frame. If temperatures get too warm during the day you should use some type of ventilation. If you are using plastic, poke holes in it near the bottom on the sides or open the end of the row during the day. If you are using glass, merely open up all or part of the row.

The frame can be built from wood or metal. It can be as easy as an old window slanted over the planting area. There are even elaborate greenhouse type cold frames that are available from your gardening center or online. Something clear should be used for the first layer over the plants. This can be plastic or glass. If the temperatures drop very low, some type of heat may be needed. Or for a cheap alternative, use a blanket over the clear plastic. When warmer weather arrives, be sure to get the plants into the garden as soon as it is safe.

A method that might be a bit easier is to use black or clear plastic as a mulch. To get plants into the ground, poke holes in the plastic and put the seeds or seedlings through the hole. At night, if frost is threatening, plants can be covered. There are many ways to cover plants, which will keep the frost out and the heat in. Cut off the bottom of a plastic milk jug and place over the plant. You can even use paper or plastic grocery bags. The insulation does not necessarily have to be thick enough to keep the cold out, just the frost. They will hold in heat that is rising from the soil that was trapped during the daylight hours.

There are also plastic tubes that can be filled with water. These are propped up around the plant and filled with water. The water will warm up during the day in the sunlight. At night, when the temperature drops, the water will give off heat and keep plants and seedlings warmer. You will need some type of support for the tubes. Again, it can be as simple or elaborate as you wish. A plastic bucket placed over the plant will provide enough support. Or something more, such as a wire frame built especially to hold them up.

Any of these methods can be used in the early spring and the late fall to help protect plants. Any gardener who desires, can extend the growing period of their plants. It does not take a lot of money, just some work and creativity, and you will have fresh garden produce well into the cold months.

SOURCE

Editors "Better Homes and Gardens" magazine. "New Garden Book". 1990. Better Homes and Gardens Books. Des Moines, Iowa.