Many of us grow vegetable gardens so we can savour fresh produce . But gardens need tending , especially during peak summertime - holiday season . That can pose a problem .
grass menace to take over my garden if I do n’t get out there every few day , and if it ’s passing red-hot and does n’t rain at least every other daylight , I have to water . Produce also postulate to be picked before it over - ripens or bird and bunnies take a nibble . So what to do if you are go on vacation ? It ’s a ignominy to start germ and watch them grow and thrive only to miss out on harvest home your bounty . Here are some peak on store your garden going when you ’re on holiday so you do n’t return to find your vegetable patch ruined .
1. Water Well and Mulch
Just before allow on holiday , give your garden a really good watering and then mulch around the base of each industrial plant to help retain wet . Depending on how long you ’re gone and how blistering it is while you ’re away , you might turn back to wilted plants , but hopefully you wo n’t lose any . The mulch will also help keep the smoke down .
2. Equip a Non-Traveling Family Member to Help
Rebecca Sweet ofHarmony in the Gardenis a landscape painting interior decorator , public utterer and source who partake in the following advice .
“ As a public speaker unit , I spend a clean amount of time traveling and have devised a simple way to help my non - gardening husband keep a alert eye on my garden , ” she say . “ Even though the majority of my garden is hooked up to automatic irrigation , there are always a few containers or area of my garden that rely on handwriting - lacrimation . To help trip up my hubby ’s attention , I place a few ‘ indicator ’ plant in container near the back doorway . Indicator plants are those that wilt much faster than others ( such as hydrangea or boodle ) . One look at them on a red-hot day and he knows it ’s time to get the hose out ! ”
This is a dandy tip , especially if you have a unforced assistant who is n’t a confident gardener . An indicator plant makes it leisurely for them to fuck how much and how often to urine .
3. Install an Automatic Irrigation System
An automatic irrigation organization , as mentioned above , is a dandy mode to assure your garden stays well - hydrous . Kits are n’t that expensive and are easy to put in . The irrigation system wo n’t figure out the problem of your vegetables over mature on the vines , but it might be easier to recruit a neighbor to just make out pick every few days if they do n’t have to worry about tearing , too .
4. Put a Timer on your Soaker Hose or Sprinkler
If an irrigation arrangement is too high - technical school for you , it ’s even easier to instal a timer on a soaker hose or sprinkler . Again , you ’ll still have to recruit a picker , but at least your garden will be water .
5. Find a Garden Buddy
Mike Podlesney , host of the Mike the Gardener podcasts and founder ofSeeds of the Month Clubhas this advice :
“ My neighbor reckon out for my garden for me . Although I turn the water off to the main house , I leave the contrast open to the hose assemblage outside so my neighbor can water if necessary . He comes over and hindrance to see if anything needs to be picked . And I ’m doing the same for him this calendar week while he ’s on holiday . ”
6. Make Self-Watering Jugs
Save up your milk , soda and water jug prior to your vacation . weewee your garden well just before you leave alone , then horn in a few holes in the bottom of each jug , fill up with urine and place around your garden with the mouth of each jug pushed several in into the ground . The water will drip out of the jugs tardily while you ’re go and keep the soil moist .
7. Time your Harvest
This takes a minute of planning , but if you have enough advance notice of vacation plans , you could endeavor to time your harvest to hap before you leave . Most seeded player packet lean the days to sprouting and days to harvest , so just count rearward from several days before you will be leaving ( to give you time to exhaust , can or freeze your crop before you go ) to enter out when you involve to plant . Start your seeds indoors if you need to get a jumpstart . or else , time things so your veggie wo n’t be ready to harvest until after you reelect . This will allow you more time to can or preserve your bountifulness once you get back home .
8. Time your Vacation
Of course , this whole military issue can be avoided if you go on holiday in the wintertime . Why leave your beautiful nursing home in the summer anyway when everything is bloom , it ’s tender and sunny , and you have a glut of fresh garden truck to eat ? Go off in the dead of winter instead when you need a break from the cold and snow !
9. Feed the Wild
Lastly , if none of these bakshis are feasible for you , then open up your garden for the week and have the rabbits , deer and other wild fauna have a feast ! Then contrive on letting your chickens and ducks ( if you raise them ) into the garden when you return to houseclean up what ’s left . At least nothing will go to waste !
Each of these summit is good on its own , but coalesce a few can also be effectual to help your garden get through your absence . Also think to cage or gage any plants that will require that extra keep while you ’re gone … and enjoy your trip !
