The Farmer's Garden: Baby Your Plants!

Baby Squash

Baby tomato plants, Moriah. Be gentle!

Beginning of April

Growing A Bit: 2nd-3rd Week Of April

Garden crops are like children: they are needy! They get hungry, thirsty, hot, and cold. Wind and hail bear upon them. Weeds ravage them, and critters consume them. Whew! That's a tough life!

It is true that some things grow relatively easy, but most of the vegetables and fruits that we desire tend require steadfast labor because they are so needy. Therefore, if you don't baby your plants, they will not produce much and may even produce nothing. How sad :(

I call it babying your plants; the Bible calls this good stewardship. Tending the garden was work from the very beginning, yet it was far more pleasant and easy without all the potential disasters looming every minute of every day.

Here are some key ways to baby your plants, and, by all means, let the kids help:

1. Pray, pray, pray that God will bless your work, work, work.

2. Check on them every day and even twice a day if at all possible.

3. Different plants require different amounts of sunshine; plant accordingly.

4. Be aware of the forecast, and prepare your garden ahead of time.

5. Be watchful for dry or swampy soil; moisture content is critical for their health.

6. Take note of critter tracks and/or bug bites; a fence or some bug spray (organic or conventional) may be required.

7. If you see yellowing of the bright green leaves, this usually means something is wrong: either or too dry or too wet, so check the moisture content of the ground.

8. Ensure that your plants have strong supports if needed.

9. Keep them fertilized whether with organic or conventional methods.

10. Finally, don't let those weeds get out of control; pull them as soon as you see them!

A great garden does take work, but the end rewards are worth all the work. Not only is the final harvest fresh and healthy, but it is also economical because you will be able to store up for the winter through canning, freezing, drying, etc.

Ultimately, God alone can make something grow. Therefore, let us praise Him and bask in His glory as He blesses the fruit of our labor according to His good pleasure! Amen!