Share this with a new gardener or read the steps to think about how you can improve your established garden!

  1. Plan a garden that will fill your family need and not be too large to maintain conveniently.
  2. Choose a garden site with a sunny, southerly exposure if possible. Avoid areas that are shaded by tall buildings and trees a large part of the day. Cool weather crops, which include the cabbage family and most root crops, can be grown on the less favorable north and northwest sites.
  3. A windbreak 4 to 6 feet tall will greatly improve the productivity of a garden that is exposed to a prevailing wind. Be sure to consider any shading influence on the site.
  4. Test the soil by taking a representative sample of soil from the top 6 inches of the garden (your local Extension office has information on soil testing). The best time to take and submit a soil sample is in the fall before freeze up.
  5. Select vegetables that grow and produce well in Alaska. When purchasing seed and transplants, buy varieties that will grow successfully in your area. For more information, Extension has publications that contain recommended variety lists.
  6. Cultivate the soil by turning or rototilling it to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Remove large rocks and thoroughly break up all soil clods. If organic matter is added, mix it into the top 6 inches of soil.
  7. Broadcast ground limestone over the garden at the rate recommended by the soil test to bring the pH into a range between 6 and 7. Limestone will not injure seeds or garden plants on contact. A low pH makes the nutrient phosphorus, needed for good root growth, nearly unavailable.
  8. Fertilize as recommended by the soil test or place a band of 8-32-16 or 10-20-10 fertilizer 2 to 3 inches away from and parallel to the row and one inch below the seed at a rate of one pound of fertilizer per 30 feet of row. Another method is to broadcast the fertilizer before planting at a rate of 5 to 6 pounds per 100 square feet. With the broadcast application, mix the fertilizer thoroughly into the top 2 inches of soil because both nitrogen and potassium will injure seed and plant roots on contact. Applying half the amount at planting and half at midseason will increase fertilizer efficiency and reduce the potential for leaching.
  9. Prepare the seedbed by raking the surface smooth to provide the fine textured soil needed to make good seed-to-soil contact and good germination.
  10. Raise the soil temperature by planting through a clear plastic mulch. Clear plastic mulch hastens soil warm-up by allowing the sun’s rays to penetrate the soil and preventing the heat from being dissipated by the wind. In much of Alaska, a clear plastic mulch is required all season for warm-soil crops such as corn, tomatoes and squash. A transparent row cover will further enhance growth efficiency by increasing air temperature during the early part of the season. Caution: Most seedlings will sunburn if not released from beneath the plastic mulch as soon as they emerge from the soil.
  11. Stake the row, plant and seed at a depth no deeper than two times the seed diameter as soon as the soil conditions are appropriate. Radish, turnip, carrot, leaf lettuce and pea seed can be planted before the danger of frost is past. Cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and broccoli are usually more successful when planted as transplants.
  12. Thin seedlings shortly after they are up to provide adequate growing room for the strongest plants.
  13. Control weeds by removing them when they are small so the removal does not injure the roots of the vegetable crop. Short, frequent trips to weed the garden are more enjoyable than long tedious sessions.
  14. Water the garden thoroughly at the time of planting. In much of Alaska rainfall is sparse and the garden will require regular watering. Crops grown through clear plastic will need less water because the plastic mulch conserves moisture by reducing evaporation. For plants growing through plastic, add the water through the openings from which the plants are growing. Add the water carefully to avoid soil being washed away from the roots. Drip irrigation tubing may be placed on the soil surface before the plastic mulch is laid if desired.
  15. Control insects by keeping a close watch over the garden and applying the right controls at the right times. In Alaska, all members of the cabbage family are attacked by root maggots. Slugs may also be a problem in coastal areas. Contact your local Cooperative Extension Service for recommended control.
  16. Harvest the garden vegetables regularly. Crops like peas and beans will keep producing when they are picked regularly.

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