HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?

Gardening has become one of the most popular outdoor activities in America, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And because so many people have taken up gardening, not everyone knows exactly where to start.

It's a good idea to arm yourself with knowledge about testing, soils, fertilizers, planting tables and a lot of other topics.

"Site selection for a garden is very important," said Gerald Bryan, agronomy specialist with the University of Missouri Extension office in Jackson.

"A good garden or planting site is one that has loam to sandy loam soil with plenty of sunshine and with little or no erosion," stated Bryan.

Gardens should be situated away from shaded areas and trees that may root into the garden area. "Because of a toxin that exudes from their roots, gardens should not be near walnut trees," said Paul Schnare of Sunny Hill Gardens in Cape Girardeau.

OK, you've found the perfect location for your Veggie Mecca. Now what?

"The first thing to do is test the soil to determine lime, nitrogen, and potash levels," stated Bryan. Commercial fertilizers can correct any deficiencies. However, organic gardeners should be especially aware of nitrogen problems.

"Nitrogen in soil is very hard to control with organic gardening," Bryan said. "The levels are often too low, and measures to control it are often costly."

According to the Extension office, a successful garden utilizes compost (leaves, grass, etc.) in a conservative manner.

When building a garden bed or area, don't use too much straw, leaves, or bark because their use leads to nitrogen depletion. And nitrogen depletion in a garden can lead to a summer spent buying veggies from a roadside vendor.

"Don't plant warm weather crops too early -- such as okra, squash, and tomatoes -- because these plants will not produce until the soil reaches a certain temperature," said Bryan.

A good garden is seeded with knowledge and cultivated with luck. Site selection, soil quality, fertilizing, and proper planting are the basics of successful gardening.