By Julie Chai

Town Crier Correspondent

Quick tips to ensure prolific produce

If you haven’t yet planted your summer vegetable garden, there’s still time. Whether you have a cement patio with just enough space for a few pots, or several acres on which to sow seed, there are many varieties that are all but guaranteed to produce an abundance of fresh summer veggies.

So if you’ve put off planting because you don’t have time, space or a green thumb, know that vegetable gardens don’t require tons of maintenance; you can grow vegetables in something as small as a one-gallon pot; and it’s pretty hard to mess up.

While different vegetables’ sun requirements vary (most need full sun), Nancy Garrison, founder and coordinator of the Santa Clara County Master Gardener Program, said that if you pay attention to the following key steps, you’re almost certain to reap a bountiful harvest.

Prepare your soil. Vegetables need fertile soil in which to spread their young roots, so be sure to incorporate several inches of compost into your planting area. It’s great to use compost that you’ve prepared yourself or to get some from your city’s composting program.

Fertilize. Except for tomatoes, most vegetables need extra nitrogen. Garrison’s favorite source of nitrogen is alfalfa meal, which is organic, releases nitrogen slowly and doesn’t cause ground water contamination as many other forms of nitrogen do. For best results, till three to four inches of alfalfa meal into your garden beds and watch your vegetables flourish.

Plant the right varieties for your area. Not all tomatoes or squash or corn or beans are created equal. You might ask, “How can I tell the difference?”

Fortunately, the Master Gardeners have done the legwork for you. They’ve tested numerous varieties of vegetables in different areas of Santa Clara County over the course of several years and have created a list of the varieties that have proven to do well here.

To get a copy of this list, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: UC Cooperative Extension, Attn.: Variety List, 700 Empey Way, San Jose, CA 95128.

Water. If you’ve amended your beds with compost, incorporated a good source of nitrogen and planted the right varieties, all you have to do is water. But how much is enough?

Garrison said that it’s difficult to get enough water in the summer, so, after watering, dig down into your soil with a trowel to see how far the water has gone. Your soil should be wet as far deep as the roots of your plant are.

Most important, know that the benefits of caring for a vegetable garden far outweigh the minimal efforts required to prepare and maintain one. “One of the joys of vegetable gardening is that it’s a great excuse to slow down and be in the present moment,” Garrison said. “When I walk out into the garden, my mind clears and I get a very strong sense of peace.”

The fresh produce from your garden will not only strengthen your body, it will feed your mind and nourish your spirit as well. Be patient and you will soon reap the fruit and vegetables of your labor.