Garden Planting

Why Dig Organic Garden Beds During the Fall?

Anyone who is interested in organic gardening in NJ should consider the benefits of digging and prepping (or refreshing) the garden beds during fall. This makes sense for several reasons: It’s easier to dig garden beds in the fall. In early spring, the ground is slowly thawing out of undiggable, frozen conditions. In autumn, the soil […]

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When to Plant Fall Vegetables in NJ Zone 6

I fully admit that we’re not the best at executing our plans to grow cool-weather crops in the fall. There’s just something so sad about having to say goodbye to those last, red tomatoes, and begin hacking up the browned twigs and bits sagging about our garden that was teeming with life just a mere

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When to Plant Early Spring Vegetables in NJ?

Wondering when you should start planting garden veggies in NJ this spring? For new gardeners in NJ: of course, the below dates are only an approximation. If you’re not home on April 1, it’s okay to plant your carrots on April 7! Note: The last frost in NJ Zone 6 is typically May 15. Schedule your

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When is it Safe to Plant Nursery Plants in My NJ Garden?

When is it safe to plant vegetables in my NJ Zone 6 garden? A friend in NJ asked me when it would be warm enough to plant the veggies and herb plants that they’re selling at Home Depot and Walmart right now. My answer is, that depends on what type of garden situation you have

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When and How to Start Prepping Your Garden Beds in New Jersey

In February, the soil is usually frozen and therefore can’t be worked. So if you intend to plant an early spring garden, then the best time to ready your garden beds for planting is before the second week of March. You want the soil to be prepared in time for that first spring planting, traditionally

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What Garden Vegetables to Plant on May 15? Zone 6 NJ

First-time NJ gardener? You’re probably anticipating an inaugral harvest of tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers. And if you’ve never gardened before, then you probably have no idea when to plant any of these vegetables. May 15 is the generally acknowledged, official garden-planting day here in NJ Zone 6. So if you want to grow the aforementioned produce,

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What Vegetables Can You Plant in Mid Summer?

Being relatively new gardeners (this is our fifth year of growing organic vegetables here in NJ Zone 6), we occasionally still have to research certain aspects of gardening before being able to write about them. Mid-summer planting was one of them. My mother has been gardening for most of her life, and I remember that

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What Type of Soil is Right for My Raised Garden Beds?

Thinking of putting in a raised bed garden this spring? Low maintenance and high yield make this a perfect choice, especially if you don’t have a lot of experience or time to devote to growing backyard veggies, but you still want to try. As compared to row gardens, raised beds are better for a few good reasons.

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What to Do When You Miss Your Planting Date

A big concern for beginner gardeners is what if you miss your planting dates? To those just learning, growing vegetables and herbs successfully does require being mindful of a timetable. Some plants thrive in cooler weather, and other prefer the heat of summer. Some take several months to mature, while others are ready to eat

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