If you didn’t get a chance to start your garden yet, fret not. Thanks to a rainier and cooler-than-normal spring, you can still enjoy some fruits of labor this season, said Frank Fernicola Jr. of the Fairfield Garden Center, Fairfield.
“We didn’t have a typical spring this year, and we haven’t had many hot days, so the growing season got off to kind of a late start,” he said. He offered some tips to get the most out of the weeks and months ahead in the garden.
FERTILE GROUND
If you’re starting from scratch, take a good look at your soil. Is it sandy or clumpy? Dark and rich? A do-it-yourself test kit ($4.99-$34.99) will tell you the acidity and alkalinity levels, which will help determine what, if any, products you should use.
Fernicola suggested using a time-released fertilizer with a top dressing of organic compost. “Organic materials contain micronutrients, enzymes and fungi that build the soil and help fend off insect attacks and drought naturally,” he said.
Mohammed Hussain, the manager at Corrado’s Garden Center, Clifton, agreed that adding organic matter is always beneficial. “This can include peat moss, composted plant material or cow manure,” he said. “All are available at garden centers and come in 40-lb. bags, or 1- and 2-cubic feet sacks.” Prices range from $2.99 up.
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There are four main types of fertilizers:
• Organic fertilizers are made from natural substances and have a slow release. Their ingredients must be broken down by soil microorganisms to gradually release nitrogen and other elements.
• Dry, granular fertilizers are the most popular type and release small quantities of nutrients each time the plant is watered.
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