MORGANTOWN — Most hardcore gardeners have already started planning their gardens and many have even ordered seeds by now.
“If you haven’t, you need to get on that right away,” said H.R. Scott, county agent in Monongalia County for West Virginia University Extension Service.
He explained that sellers run out of seeds and it happens at different times each year, so the earlier the better.
Another critical step that can be done early is testing the soil. Early testing allows any pH or nutrient deficiencies to be addressed before planting time, Scott said.
West Virginia residents have access to free soil testing through WVU, Scott said. Simply gather a sample from the area where you plan to plant a garden, put it in a quart-sized Ziplock bag and bring it to the county extension office, in Mylan Park.
After the soil is tested, the extension service and the gardener receive electronic copies of the results, and an extension agent will go over what they mean and what, if any, steps need to be taken next.
Scott also suggested using nice days to prepare the gardening area or to build a raised planter. If digging in the ground, call 811 and wait a few days for the service to mark the locations of underground pipes. Striking one can cost thousands.
Raised gardens are typically about 16-20 inches deep, Scott said.
Carrots, beans and lettuce are forgiving vegetables for new growers, Scott said.
Each plant needs to go in the ground at a different time of the year, Scott said. Some seeds need to be started indoors and transplanted while others can go right into an outdoor garden.
Scott said the back of seed packets contain all that information, as well as how much space the plant needs and if it needs partial or full sunlight.
WVU Extension also puts master gardeners in touch with new gardeners in their neighborhoods. Simply call 304-291-7201, say you’d like to talk with a master gardener and the service will find one near you who will reach out to you, Scott said.
Scott also encouraged new gardeners to not overwhelm themselves trying to plant too many things but to focus on a few things they like.
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