Let's talk about the five remaining vegetable gardening mistakes.The following content also has some reference value for raised garden beds.
Error 6: Let the weeds take over
It may not be surprising that weeds can choke your crops and compete with them for water and food. However, do you realize that some weed seeds can sleep in the soil for decades, while a single specimen of the common weed lambsquarter can produce up to 500,000 seeds per plant? This is why it is very important to weed immediately once weeds are found. If you let only one weed mature and bear seeds, you will find yourself struggling with this problem for many years. In order to prevent weeds from entering, first of all, cover the soil surface immediately after planting. Then, if any weeds begin to break through the cover barrier, remove them by hand or use a sharp hoe to cut the plants from the roots. Avoid using chemical herbicides, especially in vegetable gardens.
Error 7: Over planting
It's easy to lose control of growing vegetables and herbs. The idea of harvesting baskets of delicious fresh agricultural products may tempt you to grow crops that your family does not really like. For example, if your child doesn't eat green beans, you can use the space in the garden to grow vegetables that everyone else can enjoy. If all you really need is some tomatoes, lettuce and pepper, there is no reason to plant everything you find in the seed catalog. And, more importantly, there is no need to plant 20 tomatoes. Two or three can complete the work. Planting so many vegetables at the same time takes time and effort, and may cause you to slack off in weeding, watering and other chores.
Error 8: starve your crops
Vegetables are not magic. If they are not properly fed, they cannot bear fruit by themselves. In addition to improving the soil with compost, it is also a good idea to add some additional compost each time a new crop is sown or harvested. Granular slow-release fertilizers are also helpful, providing up to 90 days of fertility for plants. Just sprinkle the particles around the plant according to the label instructions, and each time it rains, your plant will get a fast food. On the other hand, be careful not to overfeed the plants. Some crops, such as tomatoes, will grow more leaves than fruits if too much nitrogen fertilizer is applied.
Error 9: Insufficient support
Vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, lentils and melons, grow best when they can grow up, pass over or use supports to prevent their fruits from touching the ground. Tomatoes grow well in strong cages specially designed for them, while melons and cucumbers can be trained to spread on mesh tunnels or lattice frames. Polar beans like to wrap around grids, tents or other vertical supports. These supports help keep these crops healthier by providing better air circulation, and the fruits stay healthier and cleaner high above the soil surface.
Error 10: Let pests go
Check the crops at least once a week to prevent insects from entering. Take a few minutes to check the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves and remove any pests you see as soon as possible. Once they have a firm foothold, insect populations will soon erupt and destroy the entire crop. Keep in mind that most insects only attack certain kinds of crops, so if you don't see any damage to tomatoes, your pumpkins may be attacked just a few feet away. The good news is that most pests can be eradicated if you remain vigilant and manually remove the most serious criminals. However, if you do find yourself fighting a large number of pests, please use biological control agents that can be safely sprayed on food crops.
