Plant and Grow a Successful Garden in Iowa

Planning, planting, growing and enjoying your Iowa garden include these steps:

* Decide garden size that will be best for you.

Do you want to plant a full-scale large garden on an acreage or in a small town? Do you want to plant both veggies and flowers? Do you want to have perennials or annual plants? Maybe you just want a few tomatoes or maybe you have space for only a few pots or containers. Do you have the time to actually give your garden the care it needs? Think about your physical health - are you able to bend and hoe - or would you give up sometime during the season? Are you able to spend hours in July's heat trying to water and get rid of pests and weeds that may invade your lovely garden? Do you travel or must you be away from your garden or containers for periods of time?

* Decide what is realistic for your garden and buy your plants or seeds.

If you are planting a huge garden, it's best to purchase some seeds and some plants that have already been started. Examples, for a basic garden, would be to purchase cabbage, tomato, onion [bulbs or plants] and pepper plants.

Then purchase radish, peas, beans, corn, squash, cucumbers and lettuce seeds. [You may also plant seeds for tomatoes etc, but they must be replanted when plants grow into seedlings [or small plants].

Always buy the best plants available. Do not purchase yellow or spindly looking plants. It is best to buy plants in your own area, as they are often hardened off to your own growing zone for better production.

*Your garden must have at least five hours of direct sunlight per day.

More sunlight is better for producing actual crops rather than just having pretty green plants.

* Dirt must be appropriate for good results.

If your soil is sandy or full of clay, you must mix compost or other soil enhancing products with it for best harvest. If soil is too sandy or light, it will dry very quickly and will not give out enough energy to produce harvest. If the soil is clay [heavy, clumped together and yellow] it also will not be porous enough to grow good crops. Be sure garden is properly cultivated prior to planting and do not plant when soil is wet.

* Plant according to correct season.

In and around Des Moines, Iowa, it's best to hold off planting tomatoes, peppers and other plants that aren't able to survive frost until about May 15. If you do plant earlier, be tuned in to weather conditions and cover plants if frost is predicted. Also, lettuce and some other plants do not grow well in very hot weather. They can, however, be planted in late summer for a great crop in early fall.

Cabbage and most seeds can be planted as soon as ground is warm or weather conditions permit.

*Have access to water nearby. Des Moines and all of Iowa usually has periods of drought during every growing season. To avoid many problems with gardening, your garden must be frequently watered if you have little or no rainfall. Most of us don't want to be hauling heavy buckets of water during 100 degree temperatures.

*Watch garden for pests.

If worms or bugs infest your plants, talk to your local garden shop for best products to use in your area. If you decide to go truly organic, many garden chemicals are not to be used and hand-picking of tomato and cabbage worms help to keep your plants healthy.

*Pick produce timely.

Your veggies can go from almost ready to over-ready to pick and eat in just a day or two. This is especially true during the hot temperatures of summer. Veggies always taste best when picked just a bit early or during their prime. Zucchini get huge, radishes get too hot to eat, cabbage splits, cucumbers turn yellow and lettuce will go to seed if not gathered timely.

In Iowa, or anywhere else, if you do container gardening, watering daily is almost essential. Choose larger pots and smaller, more compact plants for best results. Make the choice of buying good planting soil. Using containers may possibly provide less produce, but you can certainly enjoy tomatoes, peppers, herbs, onions and cucumbers from a container garden on your deck or patio. Children, those with limited space or abilities also enjoy watching container gardens grow and eating their own veggies.

Many Iowans have some sort of agriculture background and enjoy planting some kinds of flowers or veggies. Much Iowa soil is black and conducive to growing good gardens. Remember if the same garden plot is used every year that it must be fertilized so the soil does not wear out and that you will continue to have great results from your gardening.

Don't forget to take your favorite cool or hot drink in hand, and walk around or sit down and enjoy your great Iowa garden. A garden that is well-cared for and enjoyed will likely produce well.

For a great gardening magazine appropriate to Iowa gardens try this link:
http://www.iowagardeningmagazine.com/