Melinda's Garden Moment Radio Tips

Melinda Myers

Nationally known gardening expert, TV/Radio host, author & columnist with over 30 years of horticulture experience and tons of gardening information to share! www.melindamyers.com

Melinda's Garden Moment videos will help you create that beautiful landscape you’ve always wanted. Each week throughout the growing season, a new gardening video will be added right here, so be sure to stop back. You can also watch Melinda’s Garden Moments on your local network TV station affiliate.

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As you plan and plant your annual flower and vegetable gardens, consider rotating your plantings for greater success.

This centuries’ old technique involves changing the location of plantings in the garden each year.  Rotation reduces the risk of insects and diseases building up in the soil and damaging your plants. 

Extending the time for planting back in the original location for 3 to 4 years provides even greater results.

Rotate out of family as well. For example, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants are all related and susceptible to many of the same pests. So grow onions, beans or another non-related plant in their space the following year.  Do this with all your plantings, both vegetables and flowers, to maximize the benefits of this technique.

A bit more information: No room to rotate plantings? Keep the soil healthy with the addition of compost and organic mulches. Healthy soil grows healthy plants that are better able to tolerate insect and disease problems. If problems persist, consider rotating into containers.