• Generally, corn can be direct seeded any time after the 2nd week of May
• Harden off any transplants to be planted later in the garden
• After May 20th (normally last frost date), plant starts of tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, and direct seed beans, squash, melons, potatoes and cucumbers--but watch the weather!!
• Harvest rhubarb, spinach, lettuce, radishes, scallions and asparagus
• Plant seeds for your 2nd or 3rd planting of any cold weather crops
• Thin seedlings, as needed
• For succession plantings, plant warm season crops where cool season crops have been harvested
• Also for succession planting buy seeds now to sow later for a fall harvest.
• Mulch around plants and in rows to keep soil moist and reduce soil compaction
• Monitor crops for insect and disease problems regularly
• Erect plant supports, as needed
• Revel in the sprouting and blooming of nature! 

• Tomatoes: 1 plant yields 5 pounds.
• Lettuce: 8 plants yield 1 salad per person per week.
• Beets: 1 plant is a 1/4 pound root.
• Cucumbers: 1 plant yields 5 pounds.
• Zucchini: 1 plant yields 10 pounds.
• Bush Beans: 1/4 pound of seed produces 12 1/2 pounds of beans.
• Peas: 1/4 pound of seed produces 10 pounds of pea pods.
• Corn: 1 or 2 ears per plant; 2 oz. of seed plants a 50 foot row and yields 50 ears.
• Potatoes: 5 pounds of seed potatoes yields 50 pounds.
• Peppers: 1 plant yields 5 pounds.

• Seeds are cheaper. 
• Plants can be quicker.  
• And some crops are better grown one way than the other.
• Use plants for tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cabbage, and broccoli.
• Direct seed beans, beets, carrots, Swiss chard, cucumbers, lettuce, peas, radishes, spinach, and squash.
• To save money choose mainly crops you can direct seed. 

• Make sure the soil is properly prepared.
• Plant when you should based on the crop (look at plant labels or the seed packets.
• Make sure the soil is not too wet to work.

• Use the information on the seed packet to determine how deep to plant and whether or not to cover the seed.
• Press lightly to ensure good soil contact.
• Water well, but gently, and apply some half-strength liquid fertilizer.

• Look for stocky, full, medium-sized plants. The roots should fill the pots, but should not be pot-bound. Do not get plants that have begun to set fruit.
• Plant on a cloudy day or in the late afternoon or early evening, to reduce wilting.
• Make a hole big enough to hold the root-ball.
• Plant at the same depth the plant was grown (except tomatoes and broccoli, which can be planted more deeply).
• Firm the plant in gently, to ensure good soil contact.
• Water the new plants well, but gently, and apply some half-strength liquid fertilizer.

• Apply a tick repellent, making sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions. Note that DEET formulations of at least 25 percent are needed to repel ticks. Repellents containing permethrin should be applied to clothing only; do not apply directly to exposed skin.
• Wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to find crawling ticks.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Tuck pants into socks, and tuck shirt into pants.
• Perform tick checks frequently.
• Remove ticks immediately.
• Avoid tall grass and weedy areas; stay on paths.

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible.
2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers. If you are unable to remove the mouth easily with clean tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal.
3. Never crush a tick with your fingers.
4. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.
5. Save the tick for identification. It is useful to place the tick in a container with hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol; or wrap the tick inside an alcohol wipe before placing it into a container. The alcohol helps preserve the specimen. Take the tick with you to a healthcare professional if you develop flu-like symptoms.