NewsCenter 5 went to Weston Nurseries for some advice from Peter Mezitt about how to pick plants and nurture a successful garden.
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DIFFERENT KINDS OF CROPS. SO YOU’RE THINKING OF GROWING
SOME FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THIS
SEASON? WE CAME HERE TO WESTON NURSERIES
TO GET SOME ADVICE FROM AN
EXPERT. IT’S WARM ENOUGH TO PLANT YOUR
WARM SEASON VEGETABLES NOW, SO
THEY’RE ALL HERE. PETER MEZA TAKES US THROUGH THE
VEGETABLE SECTION. WE START WITH SOME OF THE MOST
PROLIFIC PLANTS. ZUCCHINI AND SUMMER SQUASH. BOUNTIFUL PRODUCTION. YOU’LL HAVE MORE THAN YOU NEED. THERE’S ONE LITTLE GUY THAT
SEEMS TO CREEP UP WITH. WITH MY WHOLE FAMILY. WE GET THIS LITTLE CUTWORM
THAT’LL GET RIGHT AT THE GROUND
LEVEL. AND ONE WORM CAN KILL THE PLANT. SO YOU GOT TO WATCH OUT FOR
THAT. BUTTERNUT AND ACORN SQUASH. YOU DON’T GET AS MANY AS YOU DO
WITH THE ZUCCHINIS OR SUMMER
SQUASH, BUT YOU MIGHT GET 8 TO
12. BUTTERNUT OR SPAGHETTI SQUASH OR
ACORN SQUASH ON THE VINE. WHAT ABOUT EGGPLANTS? ANOTHER EASY CROP TO GROW. I’VE NEVER HAD A DISEASE PROBLEM
OR AN INSECT PROBLEM WITH
EGGPLANTS. THERE ARE DOZENS OF VARIETIES OF
TOMATOES. YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM SOME
HEIGHT. VEGETABLES, LIKE ANY PLANTS,
WANT AIR MOVEMENT TO AVOID
DISEASES. PEAS ALSO LIKE THE SUPPORT OF A
TRELLIS AND WILL BE THE FIRST TO
PRODUCE FOR YOUR GARDEN. LET THEM GROW UP ON ALL THE
TENDRILS WILL ATTACH THEMSELVES. IT’S A QUICK CROP. YOU’LL HAVE IT IN ABOUT 30 TO 45
DAYS. BRUSSELS SPROUTS. ASIDE FROM GETTING SOME INSECTS,
YOU GOT TO WATCH OUT FOR, THEY
TAKE A LONG TIME. IT’S PROBABLY LIKE 120 DAYS, AND
YOU’RE PICKING THEM MORE TOWARD
FALL. BE AWARE THAT SOME VEGGIES, LIKE
CABBAGE, TAKE ALL SUMMER TO GROW
ONE HARVEST. EXPECT MORE FRUIT FROM
STRAWBERRIES IN THEIR SECOND
YEAR AS THE PLANT ESTABLISHES. ANYTIME YOU SEE A FLOWER, THESE
TURN. THESE ARE THE BERRIES. IT’S OFTEN RECOMMENDED YOU SNAP
OFF THE FLOWERS ON A NEW
BLUEBERRY BUSH TO ENCOURAGE MORE
LEAFY GROWTH FOR NEXT YEAR. BUT PETER SAYS THAT’S NOT
NECESSARY. I DON’T RECOMMEND THAT IF PEOPLE
WANT TO PRODUCE SOME FRUIT THE
FIRST YEAR, GO FOR IT. JUST HAVE FUN WITH IT. IT’S GETTING PEOPLE OUTSIDE. IT’S GETTING PEOPLE IN TOUCH
WITH SOIL, BUT YOU CAN DO IT AND
IT’S SO MUCH BETTER NUTRITIONAL
WISE. WHEN YOU’RE LOOKING FOR YOUR
SPOT TO PLANT, PETER SAYS FRUITS
AND VEGETABLES LOVE FULL SUN, SO
LOOK FOR AN AREA THAT GETS AT
LEAST 7 TO 8 HOURS OF FULL SUN
IN THE SUMMERTIME. HAPPY GROWI