Interplanting Your Garden

This time of year when you look at your garden, the space between the rows looks like wasted space. Old English gardeners used interplanting to use this empty space more fully.

Using space to the maximum requires some thought. Shading and nutrient competition and plant maturity should differ. This simply means a quick-growing crop is planted and harvested before a later-making crop fills in the same space.

Chose crops that require close to the same light, moisture and fertility. If you don't spray, plant unrelated plants close together; this slows down pest problems. If you do spray, read the label and follow harvest restrictions for near-by crops.

There are many combinations such as radishes between onions or cabbage. You might plant beans between cabbage to take over after the cabbage is harvested. Cucumbers and bush beans work well; the beans are done before the cucumbers over take them.

Yes, with some thought and effort you can grow more in a small space. Experience will teach you that utilizing garden space can yield a bountiful harvest.

Strawberries in the Home Garden

My favorite fruit is the strawberry. There is nothing like the look of a big red strawberry ready to eat. Strawberries have been around for a long time. Wild strawberries were recorded in Europe as early as 70 B.C. Early American settlers found wild plants here. Later, berries were found on the Pacific coast of North and South America. These berries were crossed and form the basis of modern strawberry varieties today.

Now is the time to plant your strawberries while the soil is workable. Select a sunny location in a well-drained area.

Most families find that 25 to 50 plants give plenty of fruit for fresh use. If you like to freeze or preserve them, 75 to 100 plants are needed.

Earliglow is a great tasting early berry while Honeoye is larger and yields better. There are several other varieties of choice, so pick your favorite.

If you would prefer everbearing varieties that yield throughout the summer, then you might consider Ozark Beauty.

Strawberries always taste great, but growing them takes effort. You might want to consider just buying some locally. They too are wonderful and require no weeding. Because, caring for berries requires a little hoe, hoe, hoe.