At last — the long, warm days have arrived here on PEI! The risk of frost is behind us, and now is the perfect time to get your garden growing. Whether you’re planting for the first time this season or adding to what you’ve already started, there’s still so much you can put in the ground.
It’s a great time to sow seeds like beans, peas, lettuce, spinach, carrots, and beets. You can also plant your starts: tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, beans, broccoli, cabbage, and herbs. Be sure to water everything well after planting to help the roots settle in and get off to a strong start.
For an extra boost, apply fertilizer along your seed rows and where you set your transplants. A balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10, 6-12-12, or an organic option like Gaia Green works well. These plants are going to feed you all summer long, so give them the energy they need now to help them grow strong and produce abundantly. A second feeding in mid-July will keep them going.
Tomatoes are especially fun to plant deeply — burying part of the stem will encourage extra root growth, making for a sturdier, more productive plant.
Not sure what to grow? Stop by the garden centre and see what’s new! You might be surprised by the variety of plants you can enjoy here on PEI.
Once your garden is in, the real joy begins. Keep an eye on the weather — while rain is wonderful, a hose or watering can may be needed during dry stretches. Take a little time to weed between the rows, and soon you’ll be reaping the rewards.
There’s nothing quite like stepping out to your garden on a warm summer evening, picking a handful of crisp peas for a snack, or watching the kids pop sun-warmed cherry tomatoes straight into their mouths. Fresh basil for tonight’s pasta, a cucumber sliced for sandwiches, a basket of carrots for a backyard picnic — it’s all right there, grown by you.
