Community Affairs – April 2021

Planting your Garden in Vermont!

SOONER OR LATER, IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO RESPOND to the relentless demands of plant life. And so we all become gardeners, whether we like it or not. Some of us do not. We don’t loathe it, necessarily, or have a phobia about it. We have nothing against people who like it, and we can even appreciate, in a dull sort of way, the results of their efforts. We just would rather not do it, which is another way of saying that we just would rather not spend hours and hours doing it.  However, it is Spring and wonderful to enjoy he color of the landscape with flowers and thrill of growing your own vegetables.
So, for the Gardening Enthusiasts, here are some tips for Gardening in Vermont!
 

Plan Ahead

  • Connect with UVM extension and get a soil testdone for your garden.  No matter where you’re gardening, you always want to make sure that the soil is not only good quality, but safe for growing food.  Good soil is a key ingredient to producing safe, healthy and great tasting veggies throughout the season!
  • Find out which plants grow best in your region before you begin gardening. Visit the Almanac to find out when it’s best to begin growing certain fruits & veggies. Put in your zip code or City, State and it will give you info for your specific region.
  • Plan out your garden– what, where, and when – to maximize your growing space.  The Gardener’s Supply Co. Kitchen Garden Planner is a user-friendly tool to help with just this.  Also, grow what you eat!  When planning what to grow, think about what you and your family love to eat and what’s most expensive at the grocery store.

Seeds & Starts: Tips for getting started:

  • You can use your EBT card(3SquaresVT food benefits) to buy seeds & starter plants. Go to the 3SquaresVT website for more info on where and how to use benefits. 
  • Start plants from seedand save on the cost of veggie starter plants. Here are some Seed Starting Tips to get you on your way!
  • Save your seeds from past garden years, rather than purchasing new seeds each year.  In addition to saving you money, seed saving allows you to preserve your favorite varieties.  Here are a few helpful resources to get you started:
  • Make your own compost!
  • Take a look at this source for clear do-it-yourself instructions: Creating a Compost Bin
  • You can even use recycled materials to build your bins.  Contact your local stores to see if they are giving away any wooden pallets!
  • For more composting resources visit our Community Composting

Use items that can be found within or around your garden!

  • When planting vine crops use a bordering chain link fence or build a trellis using sticks and twine. Check out this neat video on how to get started: 4 Simple Trellises
  • Pallets can be used for so many things including gardening herbs or other small plants. Check out this video on how to start your own Garden Pallet

Visit The Local Experts

Glebe Mountain Garden & Landscaping
Londonderry, VT (802) 824-3956

My Sisters Garden
South Londonderry, VT (802) 297-3300

Sapsicle Farms Plant Nursery
Winhall, VT (802) 689-2342‎

Equinox Valley Nursery:
Manchester, VT (802) 362-2610

Mettowee Mill Nursery
Dorset, VT (802) 325-6468