10 a.m., June 2, 2009----Wish you had started a vegetable garden earlier this spring? You may be surprised to find out that you still have time to do so. Although we're already into June, it's not too late to start a garden, according to Carrie Murphy, a University of Delaware Cooperative Extension horticulture agent.

There are a number of ways you can jump-start that late garden, says Murphy. She and Extension agricultural agent Anna Stoops put their heads together to provide these tips for gardening procrastinators:

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* Team up with a neighbor to lessen the time commitment or join a local community garden if space is an issue.

* Consider planting shorter season crops such as beans, kohlrabi, fennel, leaf lettuce, okra or peppers. Many of the cucurbits (squashes, cucumbers and melons) are also shorter season and are still within the range for planting dates.

* Buy the biggest transplants you can find. However, there are many crops that you can still direct seed into the garden, such as carrots, cucumbers and Swiss chard.

* You've missed the boat for spring cool season crops so grow the warm season crops you'd like to eat. You'll get your chance to plant those cool season crops in late summer for a fall harvest.

* If you don't have time to prepare a vegetable bed, simply clear some space in your ornamental beds, or create containers. Either option is great for growing tomatoes, peppers and herbs.

* Be sure to use quick-release fertilizer rather than slow release.

* If you're short on time and this is why you haven't started your garden, you may find you don't have time to water, either. Consider installing an inexpensive irrigation system -- something as simple as a soaker hose laid out in your garden. When your plants need water you can just attach the hose and let it run for the appropriate amount of time.

* Speaking of water, veggies need, on average, 1 inch of water a week. A rain gauge works wonders to help you keep track of rainwater and how much you need to supplement (if at all).

* Be patient and give your plants extra TLC - the harvest may come a little later but you'll still reap the benefits.

You'll be busy in the days ahead as you scramble to get your garden in, but Stoops predicts that you will be glad you put in the effort.

“There is nothing like going out to your yard and picking something to eat that you grew yourself,” says Stoops.

Learn more

Find out more about gardening on your back 40 (even if it's a mere one-quarter acre) at a Vegetable Gardening Basics workshop on Wednesday, June 10. The one and one-half hour workshop costs just $5.

Horticulture agent Carrie Murphy will be joined by Gail Hermenau, Master Gardener and Master Composter, to provide gardening tips and answer questions. The workshop starts at 6:30 p.m. at the New Castle County Cooperative Extension office, 461 Wyoming Rd., in Newark.

For more information and to register, contact Murphy at 831-2506 or [cjmurphy@udel.edu]. Space is limited to 25 participants.

Another way to learn more

Got a pesky pest eating the leaves of your tomatoes or beans? Or could it be a fungus that's actually wreaking havoc?

Get to the bottom of your plant's problems with a free diagnostic service offered by the Master Gardeners in each county. Drop your plant sample of at your county Cooperative Extension office and the Master Gardeners will do their detective work.

Within a week to 10 days (usually faster) the Master Gardeners will tell you what the suspected culprit is, and most importantly, what to do about it.

For more information, call 831-8862 in New Castle County or 856-7303 in Sussex and Kent counties.