Every gardener knows the dilemma: you have been growing all spring, taking care of plants and protecting them from night frost, and then the beautiful summer months arrive, everything finally starts to bloom and grow and suddenly we all go on holiday. What about the garden, do you then call a breakdown near. Stay home then? No need, there are a few tips that you can apply so that you can pack your suitcase without a care in the world.
Arrange a garden sitter during your holiday
It seems obvious, but arrange a garden sitter when you go on holiday - even if it's just for a weekend. A family member, a neighbour, a friend: ask someone to keep an eye on things while you're away. Vegetables that need to be harvested, watering, that sort of thing. That person doesn't have to keep your entire garden in order, but the idea is to keep everything alive until you get back home. The best tip to get them to do it? Promise them a share of the harvest; always works!
Make your holiday carefree
But even if you have been able to arrange a garden sitter, things still need to be done. Watering and preferably harvesting. Because you don't want all the fruit to rot and leafy vegetables to bolt . Plants that grow in pots also need special care. They depend on being watered, otherwise they won't survive. Below you will find tips to make your holiday go a lot smoother.
Tip 1: A spot in the shade
Flowers or plants that are in a pot are better collected and placed in a shady spot during your holiday. By not leaving all the pots scattered all over the garden, you prevent the sitter from having to lug around water. In addition, shade is useful, because then less watering is required during very hot and dry periods. Ask the garden sitter to come and water at least every two to three days. In an ideal world, that would be every day.
Tip 2: Provide a water buffer
For some plants it may be advisable to place the pot in a deep saucer with water while you are on holiday. This way there is a buffer and the plant can absorb moisture when it needs it. If the gardener refills the empty saucers, the plants can cope for a while. An upturned PET bottle or wine bottle can also serve as a water reservoir .
Tip 3: Keep harvesting in the vegetable garden
In the vegetable garden it is important to pick everything that is ripe before your holiday. Tomatoes, courgettes, peppers, that kind of thing. You don't want them to be overripe on the plant when you get home. Arrange with the gardener that he can also pick . Then your plants don't waste energy, but they produce more and more. Win-win.
Tip 4: Do not sow or plant in the ground temporarily
Try to avoid planting new plants or sowing them shortly before your holiday. This will only mean more work for the gardener to keep everything moist. New plantings are not yet rooted and will need more water . The same goes for seeds: seeds germinate through moisture. If it is dry, your seeds will not germinate and may even wither in the warm summer sun.
Tip 5: Mulching is gold
I keep repeating: mulch the soil between your plants! It retains moisture in the soil longer and prevents weed formation. Very efficient when you go on holiday, but also very useful to do it always .
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In this video I share my tips for when you go on holiday and the garden has to cope on its own.
