Gardens

The gardens at Melvin's Gardens vary in size and overall theme and many are simply a part of our landscaping. Our clients like them because they provide ideas and offer an opportunity to see the growth habits of many plants and shrubs.

Our fields are also considered to be a part of our gardens, and these keep us busy from Spring through Fall. Field preparation begins in early spring when the soil is turned and fertilized. Soon after, seeds are planted and irrigation is set in place. For the remainder of the growing season, our strict organic practices require that these gardens receive near- daily maintenance for pest and weed control as well as to ensure that plants are receving adequate water and nutrition. Crops are picked through the early to mid-Summer months. By August or September, cold-weather crops are planted (onions, garlic, leeks, broccoli, cauliflower, etc) for harvesting at appropriate times.

The field gardens are where the bulk of our produce is grown. These may appear to be somewhat unkempt to the casual observer, but this is the natural result of truly organic gardening. Unfortunately, the same garden pests such as weeds, wildlife, and insects that plague most farmers and gardeners exist here at Melvin's Gardens too. Since we don't use chemical additives, chemical weed-prevention, or pesticides, one can nearly always find a stray insect or weed amongst the plants. These are managed primarily through hand-picking and the utilization of beneficial insects so they can be more difficult to keep up with than they would be in gardens which are sprayed with pesticides & grass or weed-killers. Our customers can rest assured that we are vigilant about checking for and clearing away unwanted pests as part of our continuing commitment to bringing you the very best produce possible.