To close the chapter on our recent bout of late but intense wintry bluster, the Boothbay Region Garden Club was delighted to host local Master Gardener Linton Studdiford for the April general meeting. Studdiford, who is very involved in community gardening, serves as a member of the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust and gives workshops on such topics as organic gardening in Midcoast Maine.

Like any successful cultivation project, growing a vegetable garden takes good planning, informed preparation and a solid understanding of your environment. With those tenets in mind, Studdiford offered attentive listeners the following tips:

Start with a soil test. Most vegetables grow best in soil that has a PH range of 6.2 - 6.8. The University of Maine, for $15, can supply a kit that will usually provide you with results and recommendations within two weeks if you act in early spring.

Plant hardiness zones are very important to consider. Most of the Midcoast is a 5b, meaning an average of low temperatures between -10 to -15 degrees Fahrenheit. Be aware of last and first frost dates when planting vegetables. We have approximately 90 – 120 frost frees days on the Midcoast. Peppers, melons, cucumbers, beans and tomatoes are best planted 2 weeks after last frost when it is 65 – 75 degrees F.

The next consideration is "what to plant?" Studdiford recommends that you plant what you like, given the parameters of what is best suited to the climate and the season. Go with plants that are resistant to disease and, to keep things interesting, plant something new and unfamiliar along with steady favorites.

Common planting mistakes include planting too early or planting when it is too hot. Some plants like peas, spinach, lettuce and kale won't germinate if it is above 65 degrees. One gardening hint is to plant cool season crops where they are shaded by warm season crops. Studdiford also talked about the virtues of raised beds, planting block versus rows and planting every two weeks to provide a continuous crop. Buy local plants and seeds from companies such as Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Fedco, Burpee and Pine Tree Seeds for the best results and when buying seeds compare the price of the packet to the number of seeds inside.

Happy planting!

The Boothbay Region Garden Club works with many community groups to foster good gardening practices and successful gardening experiences. Watch Garden Club notices for the upcoming BRGC Plant Sale on Saturday, May 20. It will be a good opportunity to pick up healthy, soil ready plants for your own garden. For more information on other events and activities check out the BRGC website at http://www.boothbayregiongardenclub.org

BRGC is affiliated with NGC (National Garden Clubs Inc.) and is a member of the GCFM (Garden Club Federation of Maine).