GARDENING TIPS: Planting Vegetables

JULIE RILEY HERE, HORTICULTURALIST WITH THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE.

IT IS PLANTING TIME AND TODAY I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PLANTING DEPTH FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLANTS.

SO IF YOU STARTED YOUR OWN TRANSPLANTS INDOORS, THEY MAY HAVE A KIND OF SCRAGGLEY STEM AT THE BASE.

THESE PLANTS WERE COMMERCIAL GREENHOUSE GROWN, AND THEY'RE NOT TOO BAD.

BUT SOME PLANTS, THOSE THAT ARE IN THE CABBAGE FAMILYSHOULD BE PLANTED DEEPLY.

WHEN YOU'VE GOT A CELL PACK LIKE THIS, THE EASIEST THING TO DO IS TO KIND OF POP THEM RIGHT OUT.

SO WHAT YOU DO IS PINCH THE BOTTOM, AND THEY WILL FLIP RIGHT OUT OF THE CONTAINER.

BUT I WANT TO SHOW YOU A LITTLE TECHNIQUE THAT'S GOING TO MAKE YOUR PLANTS A LITTLE STRONGER AND HEALTHIER IN THE SEASON.

AND THAT IS TO BREAK UP THOSE ROOTS A LITTLE BIT SO THAT THEY DON'T CONTINUE TO GROW IN THIS SAME LITTLE FORM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN GROWING IN THEIR CONTAINER.

SO WE'VE BROKEN THEM UP A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN WHEN WE GO TO PLANT, WE SET IT IN THE GROUND BEING VERY CAREFUL NOT TO BURY THE CROWN WHEN YOUR DOING LETTUCES OR PARSLEY.

WITH CABBAGE, CAULIFOWER, OR BROCCOLI, WE'RE GOING TO BURY IT A LITTLE BIT DEEPER.

THIS YEAR YOU CAN ENTER THE GIANT CABBAGE WEIGH IN AT THE TANANA VALLEY FAIR, SO YOU NEED TO START WITH A GIANT VARIETY LIKE O-S CROSS THAN JUST A LITTLE REGULAR CABBAGE.

SO THE PRIZE FOR THE BIGGEST CABBAGE IS GOING TO BE $500.

THANKS TO THE ALASKA FARM BUREAUS CHAPTER.

THIS IS JULIE RILEY, NEXT WEEK WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT REFURBISHING THE SOIL IN YOUR CONTAINERS THAT ARE STILL SITTING AROUND THE BACKSIDE OF THE HOUSE.

GARDENING TIPS IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY MIDNIGHT SUN FAMILY MEDICINE A PROUD PARTNER OF "MOMS EVERYDAY".