If you're planning to plant a garden in Connecticut, you'll first need to know your planting zones. You can find these maps at the Gilmour Garden Center and the University of Connecticut Extension. These interactive maps allow you to pinpoint the exact zone for your property. It's especially useful when you live near the edge of a designated zone. Stamford, for example, is located in zone 7a while parts of the city are still in zone 6b. Any type of flower can be planted, provided it is protected from winter.
For vegetable gardening planning, it is crucial to understand Connecticut's planting zones. If you're planting tomatoes, make sure you plant them in their appropriate zone for this region. It is not only important to determine the best time of year to plant each variety. Knowing the dates for the last and first frost dates in the fall can also help you plan your gardening schedule. The USDA's plant zones for Connecticut are used to determine the last and the first frost dates. Connecticut has a 10% chance for frost to occur before or after the dates.
There are four USDA plant toughiness zones in Connecticut. The first is 5a in the western mountains and 8a on the eastern shore. This guide will help you decide which plants to plant in your garden. Broccoli is an excellent winter vegetable, and it's rich in vitamins and minerals. Another healthy option for your home garden is cabbage, which can be grown in colder months. It is high in antioxidants and provides a delicious crunch.
Root vegetables make the best Connecticut plants. Excellent choices include turnips, carrots and beets. To plant these vegetables, you will need to wait for frost danger to pass. Some flowers you should plant are coleus (shasta daisies), daylilies and red creepingthyme. Many plants will survive in this area because of the soil fertility. The following list is a good guideline for Connecticut gardening.
FAQ
Can I grow vegetables inside?
Yes, you can grow vegetables inside in the winter. You will need a greenhouse or grow lighting. You should check the laws in your area before you purchase a greenhouse.
How do you prepare the soil for a vegetable garden?
Preparing soil is simple for a vegetable garden. First, remove all weeds in the area where you plan to plant vegetables. Add organic matter such as leaves, composted manure or grass clippings, straw, wood chips, and then water. Let the plants grow by watering well.
Do I need any special equipment?
You're not wrong. You only need a trowel, shovel, watering can, and a rake.
What's the first thing you should do when you begin a garden project?
First, prepare the soil before you start a garden. This includes adding organic material such as composted horse manure, grass clippings or leaves, straw and the like, which provides plant nutrients. Next, plant the seeds or seedlings in the holes. Water thoroughly.
Statistics
- Today, 80 percent of all corn grown in North America is from GMO seed that is planted and sprayed with Roundup. - parkseed.com
- According to the National Gardening Association, the average family with a garden spends $70 on their crops—but they grow an estimated $600 worth of veggies! - blog.nationwide.com
- 80% of residents spent a lifetime as large-scale farmers (or working on farms) using many chemicals believed to be cancerous today. (acountrygirlslife.com)
- As the price of fruit and vegetables is expected to rise by 8% after Brexit, the idea of growing your own is now better than ever. (countryliving.com)
External Links
How To
Organic fertilizers for your garden
Organic fertilizers are made of natural substances like manure, compost and fish emulsion. Organic fertilizers are made from non-synthetic materials. Synthetic fertilizers are chemical compounds used in industrial processes. Because they are quick and efficient, synthetic fertilizers are popular in agriculture. They don't require laborious preparation. However, synthetic fertilizers pose risks to human health and the environment. They also require large amounts energy and water to make. Due to runoff, synthetic fertilizers can pollute both groundwater as well as surface waters. This pollution is harmful to wildlife and humans.
There are many kinds of organic fertilizers.
* Manure is a product of livestock eating nitrogen-rich food (a plant nutrient). It's made of bacteria and enzymes which break down the waste to simple compounds that can be taken by plants.
* Compost is a mixture of vegetable scraps and grass clippings, animal manure, and decaying leaves. It is rich in carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium and sulfur. It is porous so it retains moisture well and releases nutrients slowly.
* Fish Emulsion- A liquid product that is made from fish oil. It is similar to soap in its ability to dissolve oils and fats. It has trace elements such as phosphorous, nitrogen and nitrate.
* Seaweed Extract - a concentrated solution of minerals extracted from kelp, red algae, brown algae, and green algae. It is rich in vitamins A, C and iodine as well as iron.
* Guano - excrement from seabirds, bats, reptiles, and amphibians. It is rich in nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium as well as sodium, magnesium, sulfate and chloride.
* Blood Meal is the meat and bones of animals that have been slaughtered. It is rich in protein which is useful for feeding birds and other animals. It also has trace minerals such as phosphorous, potassium, nitrogen and other nutrients.
Make organic fertilizer by combining equal parts manure, fish emulsion, and compost. Mix thoroughly. If you don’t own all three ingredients, one can be substituted for the other. For example, you could mix 1 part of the fishemulsion with 2 parts of compost if only you have access to fish emulsion.
Spread the fertilizer evenly on the soil with a shovel, or tiller. The fertilizer should be about 1/4 cup per square foot. To see new growth, you will need to apply more fertilizer every 2 weeks.