Gardening
Gardeners in Fulton County may not have the longest growing season‚ but this region – part of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 4 – can provide some rewarding gardening experiences.
Choosing plants native to the region or well suited for its climate is key to a thriving garden‚ unless you just want to experiment.
John Deitch‚ a master gardener and a volunteer at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Fulton and Montgomery Counties‚ recommends that anyone starting a garden should get the soil tested first.
“We do it here in the office for a dollar‚ and often we can do it while people wait‚” he says. “We can tell them the pH of their soil‚ and if they need to put some lime or other amendments in it.”
Average high temperatures are 80 degrees Fahrenheit in July and 27 degrees in January. Average lows are 58 degrees in July and 8 degrees in January.
As a general rule‚ the gardening season starts around Memorial Day and continues through Labor Day.
“In this area you can be very successful in vegetable gardening‚ herb gardening‚ landscaping and flower gardening‚” Deitch says. “We’re fortunate to have a climate where you can grow most things.”
For more information about gardening in Fulton County‚ visit the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Fulton & Montgomery Counties Web site‚ http://www.ccefm.com.
