How To Extend The Vegetation Of Plants, Tall Beds

With this simple strategy for a short gardening season, you can grow fresh vegetables from early spring to late fall. Fortunately, there are some simple techniques for lengthening the growing season. They allow you to start using vegetables and seasonings in early spring and harvest until the colder days in the fall.

There are two ways to lengthen the vegetative growth of plants: to create a temperature regime of the soil and humidity in order to artificially provide favorable conditions for seedlings in the spring, and to protect mature vegetables or flowering plants from the cold in autumn.

Consider six types of plant assistance

1. Do it yourself or buy a cold frame or greenhouse

A cold greenhouse is generally small. This is an unheated greenhouse with a wooden (can be iron or plastic) frame covered with a clean film or glass. Window frames are very often used. During the day, the greenhouse is heated through the cover by the sun's heat and retains heat until night, ensures the temperature regime of the air and soil, and thereby saves the plants from low temperatures. In spring, this greenhouse is used to start growing early plants in low, cold weather conditions. They can harden seedlings that are grown at home, giving them a transitional period before planting in open ground. In the fall, a cold greenhouse allows you to sow cold-resistant plants, the yield of which can be extended into early winter if they are provided with moisture and fertilizer. Cold greenhouses protect plants from wind and pests.

On sunny days, the air temperature in a closed greenhouse rises to 30 ° C and higher. It must be opened for ventilation or the cover removed, as excessive heat causes stress to the plants.

2. Build tall beds

By raising the surface of the soil above the surrounding soil level, you insulate the ground and help improve drainage. The depth of the soil layer increases the yield. Wood planks, stones, cement blocks can be used to restrict the edges of tall beds, although a similar effect can be achieved with simple earthen rollers.

3. Use lightweight coatings

For this purpose, use lutrasil or spunbond. They gently cover the upper part of the plants. As the plants grow, they lift material easily. The film is also placed on the arcs, forming a tunnel. The thickness of the film protects and protects plants at temperatures up to -2 ° C. The porous translucent film provides ventilation, humidity and transmits 70-80% of light. The fabric is kept in place with staples, forks, stones, soil, or wire hoops. In cold climates, elastic lightweight covers last for several months during the season.

In the spring, when the plants begin to bloom, the cover should be removed so that insects can pollinate the flowers. In the fall, the film is again covered to preserve the warmth of the earth and save the plants from early frosts. You will continue to get warmth-loving vegetables, herbs, peppers, tomatoes, strawberries for several more weeks and have beautifully flowering plants.

4. Use plastic mulch

Since recent years, more and more gardeners have been using plastic mulch. It insulates the ground, contributes to the creation of a high yield, prevents the development of weeds, retains moisture and fertilizer. This mulching is widely used in the cultivation of pumpkins, zucchini, cucumbers, strawberries.

Mostly black lutrasil mulch is used. It inhibits the development of weeds and increases the temperature on the surface of the earth by 3-5 ° C. This film is widely used mainly in the northern regions. If the film allows light to pass through, it encourages weed growth and does more harm than good.

Recently, colored films with unique infrared penetration properties have appeared. These films are red, brown, blue. The surface of the earth, covered with a red film, is mulch. It provides the soil with the heat necessary for seedlings and seedlings and has properties similar to those of a black film. It also inhibits the growth of weeds, maintains moisture in the air and soil, and provides a 20% increase in yield (research data). As a result of the use of red film as mulch, the harvest time of vegetables and flowers is extended.

5. Install a barrier around the plants

Now at garden fairs and sometimes in stores, gardeners are offered plastic caps to shelter individual plants. This is a great way to reduce the effects of wind and create the necessary thermal conditions for plants. Each plant is surrounded by a kind of cage made of bubble wrap or bottomless film. The number of such coatings and, accordingly, plants depends on your capabilities. This is one of the most effective methods of keeping warm for growing seedlings of heat-loving plants, accelerating their maturation by six to eight weeks. The heat accumulated during the day is slowly spent towards night, providing plants.

A container filled with water (for example, a regular bottle) placed near a plant has a similar effect.

6. Choose cold tolerant plant varieties

Plants should always be zoned, that is, adapted to the local climate. Cold-hardy plants that grow well in the extreme conditions of the north include cabbage, including kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts and broccoli. For thermophilic plants such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, choose the appropriate varieties. Northern gardeners successfully grow many varieties of tomatoes. Stores offer seeds of these plants, made especially for cold areas. For example, varieties Siberian, Polyarny, Severyanin and many others. Cold-hardy varieties adapt to cool temperatures, do not spoil or get sick, and ripen faster than conventional standard varieties. Some hybrids grow until autumn, to its cold temperatures. The best results are obtained when using zoned varieties.