Time to prepare, protect your seedlings

Jeanne Crisp and Julie Kelly

It's nearly May and temperatures are improving. If you've planted seeds that do well in cold weather, such as lettuce, broccoli, radishes or spinach, you should have sprouts or may even be close to harvesting. Here are a few tips to consider:

Thinning – Seedlings growing too close together need to be thinned. Think of the size of the vegetable you hope to harvest. For example, if it's a beet that will grow to three inches in diameter, the beet top needs to be in the center of a three-inch space. It feels bad to pull out plants that look healthy, but it's necessary for a successful garden. And remember – the plants you cull can be turned into a tasty salad. Pull them roots and all, rinse in cold water, pinch off the roots, and enjoy.

Tomatoes – You'll be tempted by warmer weather to plant them, but resist. Through mid-May, go ahead and plant potatoes, peas, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, leafy greens and root vegetables. But wait until the last half of May for tomatoes, beans, eggplants, cucumbers and squash, unless you plan to use protective structures.

Pests – It's heartbreaking to discover the perky seedlings you admired the day before decimated by slugs or rabbits. Before you put plants in the ground, think about how you'll protect them. Have you seen bunnies in your yard? Get some chicken wire to enclose the garden bed. Lots of slugs? Buy some organic slug pellets. Bugs? It depend

Controlling for pests depends on what you're planting. Different crops attract different predators, and there are too many variables to tackle in one short column. But pest control efforts will pay off with healthier plants and higher yields.

We recommend you search the Internet for "WSU Extension FS#13." This should bring up "Organic Pest Control in the Vegetable Garden," a four-page document from the Washington State University Extension Service. It includes drawings of the pests, and tips to control them. It also includes a discussion of organic pesticides. Pesticides? Yes. As the fact sheet explains, "Pesticides are literally anything that kills pests and there are a number of natural materials that work quite well."

The Mukilteo Community Garden's website offers links to numerous additional resources. Visit mukilteogarden.org/About/resources to be overwhelmed.

Weeds – There are many reasons to get rid of weeds from your garden. Right now, while the soil is still moist, they are easier to pull than they will be later in the summer. Remove them before they go to seed and you'll have fewer weeds to cope with in the future. Weeds take up the water and nutrients that your vegetables need for healthy growth. And it's satisfying to finish weeding a patch of garden, whether vegetable or flower, and see all your desirable plants looking happy and well-loved.

If you have specific questions about your vegetables, contact us at gardenadvice@mukilteogarden.org. Happy planting!