Community Garden: Perfect time to hit the garden

It’s warm outside and it is a perfect time to go out and work in your garden.

Put in the last of that compost or fertilizer and turn your soil one more time. Get everything mixed in real well so your soil is ready to go when you get ready to plant at the end of April or the first of May. When you add your compost you need to consider the make up of the ingredients. Are they all broken down?

If you use any manure, cow, horse or chicken, then you need to reduce the amount of fresh stuff you put in your garden. Fresh manure will be way too hot for your garden if it is not broken down properly. I know! I know! The seeds come up real quick and look real good. But then what happens? They quit growing, they turn brown, and then they die. All that work and now it is gone and you wonder why.

What did I do? You have then tendency to blame it on the weather, too much rain, too much sun, or some bug got in your garden and got them or maybe the neighbor got you. Now that is the easy blame. But it is no one’s fault but your own. At this stage of the game stay away from any manure that is not completely broken down by age or heat so that all your hard work does not go to waste. Play it safe! This will probably be the last time you need to turn your garden soil prior to planting.

Now you just have to figure out what you are going to plant. This is important stuff. You have to have a better garden than anyone else in the neighborhood. It doesn’t matter if you are growing vegetables or flowers. Get it done!

I have heard from reliable sources that there is going to be a contest for whoever can grow the biggest of anything. That means a contest that is ongoing all summer long and well into the fall. Part of it will be in conjunction with the Logan County Free Fair. There will be more information forthcoming on this challenge. Age is not a restriction. So get your seeds ready and let’s get growing. It is completely appropriate to get advice and assistance from the Master Gardeners of Logan County or from the experts at the OSU Extension Office at the fairgrounds. Bigger is better so any assistance you can get is acceptable and appropriate.

If you want to come down and spread some leaf mulch in the beds or bark mulch around the beds then come on down. Remember to start checking the facebook page for the Guthrie Community Garden for any potential time schedule or any comments as to when people will be down there. Once you see what needs to be done you can do it on your own. So figure it out and get to planting and growing!