Backyard Garden: Vegetable Garden F
The focus in Vegetable Garden (F) this year is to experiment with attracting good bugs, warding off bad bugs, and to have a productive garden.
Points of Interest
- We have planted various herbs and flowers that have strong scents to attract the good bugs but confuse the bad bugs so they will not get the scent of vegetable foliage or fruit to consume and destroy.
- Cleaning up the garden and weeding was done in the fall of 2024. Alfalfa pellets were applied at that time in preparation for the 2025 gardening year. Alfalfa pellets are an organic soil builder and light fertilizer for a spring garden.
- Weeding continued into November as we had a warm fall and spring weeds were taking root.
- Ground preparation in 2025 began in February with more weeding and incorporating more alfalfa pellets into the soil. Spring planting started in the middle of March. Spring garden plants grow and produce better when the temperatures stay relatively cool. Some springtime plants will prematurely bolt if the temperatures get too warm
- A few experiments will be tried this year to discourage bugs that are harmful to our vegetable crops.
- Radishes (never harvested) planted around cucumbers to deter the cucumber beetles.
- Calendula to deter aphids and tomato horn worms.
- Various types of basil, fennel, and other herbs were planted. With the diversity of flowers and herbs, we are trying to satisfy the nutritional needs of a broad range of natural bad bug enemies.
- Chicken pellets were applied in every bed before planting summertime vegetables. Chicken pellets act as a soil builder and fertilizer
- Our flowers provide beauty but also have other purposes:
- Our flowers bring the pollinators and beneficial bugs to the garden.
- Some of our flowers are cut and given to food pantries. They bring joy to those who receive them and make us SMILE.
- Provide host plants for different types of pollinators. Some of our flowers (e.g. parsley, dill and fennel) demonstrate the cycles of the butterfly and other pollinators
- This year’s vegetables include Garlic, Tomatoes, Beets, Sweet Peppers, Potatoes, Cucumbers, Onions, Green Beans, Dill, Kohlrabi, Kajari melons, Eggplant, Cow Peas, and Radishes.
- Our Pollinator plants include bulb fennel, parsley, basil, and dill.
- Our flowers include Zinnias (Benary Giant Mix colors), Gomphrena, Black Eye Susan Vine, and Calendula.
Tips
“There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments” - Janet Kilburn Phillips
Garden Address
35230 W 135th St
Olathe, KS 66061
Master Gardeners are available to answer questions and provide tours while they work the gardens Wednesday mornings, March to October. To schedule a visit on another day (M-F), please contact us at bygjocoemg@gmail.com
Have questions? The Garden Hotline is staffed by trained EMG volunteers and Extension staff who will assist you with questions. Phone: (913) 715-7050 Email: garden.help@jocogov.org