HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW

Above, geraniums grown in the Southeast Missouri State University greenhouse are some of the plants available at local greenhouses. At right, Denise Lankford of Perryville, a Southeast University greenhouse student worker, waters New Guinea Impatiens plants. These plants, and many others at local greenhouses will be ready for planting later this month. (photos by Mark Sterkel)

As most gardeners begin their summer planting, G.H. Creglow of Jackson already enjoys the vegetables of his labor.

His two-acre plot near Fruitland produces crops he can put on the table, and his flowers grow steadily.

Leonard Vogel of Cape Girardeau, like many avid gardeners, is also about ready to begin harvesting from his half-acre garden.

Today marks the 30-year average date for the last killing freeze. After this date, many gardeners hit the dirt. Flower and vegetable plants are ready for purchase at area garden shops and greenhouses.

"We're eating spinach out of our garden," says Creglow. "And I have five varieties of lettuce which are ready. The onions and radishes are growing nicely.

"We're eating fresh asparagus out of the garden and the rhubarb is about ready," he says.

Creglow got a head start on the gardening season by starting many of his plants early.

The asparagus and rhubarb plants, Creglow explains, take little work. The perennials can live between 15 and 30 years. They are harvested through July and then left to prepare for the winter and yet another harvest next year.

But other plants take a bit more forethought to guarantee an early harvest. He planted spinach, for example, in September. "It can stand the winter like we had with all the ice and snow. That's why I get the early spinach.

"I like to get vegetables early," he says. "We like to eat them, so you have to start early."

He also gets a head start on flowers, starting them from seed. "I have two or three colors of impatiens which are up already. And I have three kinds of marigolds and three kinds of zinnias and several varieties of coleus."

Creglow sowed peas, onions and radishes about a month ago, as soon as the soil was dry enough to till. "I do have peas that are growing nicely. They're about three inches high."

Some seeds are planted directly in the garden. Other varieties are started inside and transplanted when the plants are strong enough to brave the elements.

"The lettuce I did start inside and transplanted. That's the best way to get early lettuce."

Creglow uses a soil thermometer to help him determine if the time is right to plant particular seeds.

"I have to see if the soil is warm enough to germinate the seeds."

He planted broccoli, cabbage and beet plants last week. "As it gets a little warmer, it's almost warm enough, I'll sow beans and corn."

While spring and summer are the busy time of the year, gardening is nearly a year-round job for Creglow.

During the winter months, he reads about gardening and different plants. Creglow subscribes to several gardening magazines and is a member of the Jackson Men's Garden Club.

In addition to his vegetables, he grows strawberries, black and red raspberries, blueberries, gooseberries and four kinds of blackberries.

He raises a selection of pumpkins, ornamental gourds and corn for the Men's Garden Club to sell.

Creglow says much of the produce grown is given away.

Creglow admits his garden is time consuming. "My wife says I spend too much time out there," he says. "I don't know, I like it. It keeps me busy."

Leonard Vogel of Cape Girardeau, tends his half-acre garden with his brother, Melvin, and friend Alvin "Bud" Haas.

"I think generally people like to see things grow. I know I do," Vogel says.

"In the spring, I get the itch to get out there. It's very satisfying to work the ground and see things come up," he says. "And I enjoy giving things away. People really like the fresh produce."

Vogel says he also "fools a little bit with flowers."

He says, "With the flowers usually I just buy the plants and set them out. That doesn't really count."

Growing in his garden is asparagus. "We put that out several years ago. That takes several years to start producing. This year we should have a crop.

"We have lettuce out and onions. It's a little early, but I planted some lima beans and a row of green beans."

Vogel will continue planting rows of green beans for the next month or so. "This way we'll have fresh green beans all season."

"It's a little early for tomatoes too, but we'll probably put them out next week," Vogel says.

"If they freeze, we'll just put out some more. We're not very scientific. We just put out a lot."

Next up are summer squash, zucchini, okra and tomatoes.

"My brother, Mel, usually puts out broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. Bud puts out beets, carrots and peppers. We plant about everything throughout the year," Vogel says.

Group gardening, he says, makes the job easier and more enjoyable.

"With the three of us we don't have to work every day. And usually we just work a couple hours in the morning," Vogel says.

"We also get rid of all the gossip when we're together."

The garden produces a plenitude of vegetables, but Vogel says they have no trouble giving it away. "We give away a lot more than we consume," he says.

"My brother also takes a lot to a harvest table at church. People buy it and the money goes to the church."

Vogel began gardening about the same time he retired, in 1986. "It's been growing every year."