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140 maconmagazine.com | APRIL/MAY 2022 GREEN THUMB TIPS TIME TO GET PLANTING FOR SUMMER VEGGIES BY KAROL KELLY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALLISON GRIFFIN W e've made it through rough times in the pandemic, grey gloomy days of winter, a false spring (and subsequent freeze) and now, we are ready! Let's talk about vegetable gardening! For some people, there is no gardening that is more rewarding or purposeful than growing vegetables. For others, a lost harvest and onslaught of insects and disease each summer isn't worth the trouble. I'd encourage everyone to give vegetable gardening more than just one chance. There is no doubt that a lot of time, energy and love goes into a successful garden. However, there is also great satisfaction that comes from growing and harvesting your own food. FAILING TO PLAN IS PLANNING TO FAIL This is probably not the first time you've heard this from me, but planning is important. If you haven't started the process already, identify a spot in full sun and near a water source, two necessities for a successful summer garden. No one is going to want to carry buckets of water during the hot summer days of July and August. Decide which crops to plant and understand the space requirements for those plants. Keeping plants spaced out will reduce disease and insect pressure as the plants mature. One more important early step is to soil test. The resulting report emailed to you will provide critical information such as which nutrients are deficient and if lime needs to be added to raise the pH. This can be completed through the Extension office and typically these reports are returned within seven business days. DON'T GET COLD FEET For generations before us, our ancestors relied on their observations and understandings of the natural world to guide their gardening process. While we need to hold fast to this wisdom and connectivity, I would suggest one area in which progress has improved. Planting on Good Friday might work in 2022, but, keep in mind this date fluctuates between mid-March and mid-April annually. In the South, we know that there can be big temperature fluctuations within a month as our seasons transition. I'd implore you to consider using the Byron weather station at georgiaweather.net to check local soil temperatures each spring. Bookmark that website. Keep an eye out for soil temperatures steadily reaching 65 degrees and rising. This is a good soil temperature for seeds and transplants to get a jumpstart on growth.