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Rookie gardening mistakes, and why they aren't the end of the world

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By Beth Botts, CHicago Tribune 2:50 PM Thursday, April 2, 2009

SO YOU ...

Had your seedlings die. It was probably "damping off," a fungus disease fostered by too-wet soil.

DO THIS:

Buy transplants. And next year, set the seedling pots in a waterproof tray and water from the bottom. The soil will absorb as much water as it needs from the tray.

SO YOU ...

Planted too soon. Your tomatoes are languishing, or rotting in the cold, wet April soil.

DO THIS:

If the plants aren't rotting, stick stakes among them and lay a bedsheet over them to help protect the plants from the freeze. Remove it during the day. Lost your plants? Wait until mid-May to plant new ones.

SO YOU ...

Planted way too much. You bought enough for a small farm. Now you're overwhelmed.

DO THIS:

Practice triage. Choose your three or four favorite vegetables to concentrate on this year and let the rest go. Give them to a neighbor or (gasp) compost them. Next year, take it easy as you build your gardening prowess.

SO YOU ...

Didn't stake your tomatoes. It's July, and suddenly you have sprawling monsters with fruit on the ground, rotting.

DO THIS:

Drive a 6-foot cedar stake well into the ground 6 inches from each plant and carefully tie up the main stem, using twine or strips of cloth rather than biting string or wire. Prune as necessary to get the plants under control. Next year, use sturdy tomato cages when you plant in May.

SO YOU ...

Are overwhelmed by weeds. Your garden is a jungle.

DO THIS:

Grub them with a hoe and hand weeder. Try not to disturb the roots of plants you want. Spread newspaper and top with an organic mulch. Next year, lay mulch when you plant.

Chicago Tribune.

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Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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