Local Interest
UNL Extension – helping you turn knowledge into "know how"
Soil Testing & Amendmentssubmitted by Sarah Browning, UNL Extension Educator
By Hayley Jackson, Extension Educator in Lancaster County
With spring comes longer days and warmer weather. One fun thing that comes with warmer weather is getting young children outside to explore their outdoor environment. There are numerous benefits to spending time outdoors for young children, including increased opportunities to develop their gross motor skills, provide the opportunity to connect with nature and invite children to take an interest in scientific learning. So what are some fun things you can do with children to increase their interest in playing outside? Below are a few tips and tricks to get the most out of your time outside with young children.
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHILE OUTSIDE
When can you plant your veggies? Check out both the last frost dates (and forecast) for your area AND the current soil temperatures before planting. Fluctuating temps this spring means that you can't just plant according to a date on the calendar. Find more on soil temperatures at https://go.unl.edu/soiltemperature and find last frost dates at https://go.unl.edu/lastfrost. Find more on gardening in Nebraska at https://communityenvironment.unl.edu. #NebExt
Making a Compost Bin
Starting a compost pile can be as simple as piling yard waste up in a free-standing pile. But to save space in smaller landscapes, hasten decomposition and keep the yard looking neat, create a composting structure. Composting structures can be made from a variety of materials and be as simple or complex as desired.
Structure Size
Start Your Garden Right with Healthy Transplants
Transplants are the way to go with tomatoes, peppers and dozens of other vegetables, as well as many of the annual flowers common in Nebraska gardens. Transplants give long-season crops a head start before being put out in the garden and a chance to produce before fall frost. Annual flowers grown from transplants begin blooming weeks earlier than they would if a gardener planted them from seed.
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