Expert tips for planting a bountiful garden full of fruits, vegetables

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DIFFERENT KINDS OF CROPS. SO YOU’RE THINKING OF GROWING SOME FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THIS SEASON? WE CAME HERE TO WESTON NURSERIES TO GET SOME ADVICE FROM AN EXPERT. IT’S WARM ENOUGH TO PLANT YOUR WARM SEASON VEGETABLES NOW, SO THEY’RE ALL HERE. PETER MEZA TAKES US THROUGH THE VEGETABLE SECTION. WE START WITH SOME OF THE MOST PROLIFIC PLANTS. ZUCCHINI AND SUMMER SQUASH. BOUNTIFUL PRODUCTION. YOU’LL HAVE MORE THAN YOU NEED. THERE’S ONE LITTLE GUY THAT SEEMS TO CREEP UP WITH. WITH MY WHOLE FAMILY. WE GET THIS LITTLE CUTWORM THAT’LL GET RIGHT AT THE GROUND LEVEL. AND ONE WORM CAN KILL THE PLANT. SO YOU GOT TO WATCH OUT FOR THAT. BUTTERNUT AND ACORN SQUASH. YOU DON’T GET AS MANY AS YOU DO WITH THE ZUCCHINIS OR SUMMER SQUASH, BUT YOU MIGHT GET 8 TO 12. BUTTERNUT OR SPAGHETTI SQUASH OR ACORN SQUASH ON THE VINE. WHAT ABOUT EGGPLANTS? ANOTHER EASY CROP TO GROW. I’VE NEVER HAD A DISEASE PROBLEM OR AN INSECT PROBLEM WITH EGGPLANTS. THERE ARE DOZENS OF VARIETIES OF TOMATOES. YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM SOME HEIGHT. VEGETABLES, LIKE ANY PLANTS, WANT AIR MOVEMENT TO AVOID DISEASES. PEAS ALSO LIKE THE SUPPORT OF A TRELLIS AND WILL BE THE FIRST TO PRODUCE FOR YOUR GARDEN. LET THEM GROW UP ON ALL THE TENDRILS WILL ATTACH THEMSELVES. IT’S A QUICK CROP. YOU’LL HAVE IT IN ABOUT 30 TO 45 DAYS. BRUSSELS SPROUTS. ASIDE FROM GETTING SOME INSECTS, YOU GOT TO WATCH OUT FOR, THEY TAKE A LONG TIME. IT’S PROBABLY LIKE 120 DAYS, AND YOU’RE PICKING THEM MORE TOWARD FALL. BE AWARE THAT SOME VEGGIES, LIKE CABBAGE, TAKE ALL SUMMER TO GROW ONE HARVEST. EXPECT MORE FRUIT FROM STRAWBERRIES IN THEIR SECOND YEAR AS THE PLANT ESTABLISHES. ANYTIME YOU SEE A FLOWER, THESE TURN. THESE ARE THE BERRIES. IT’S OFTEN RECOMMENDED YOU SNAP OFF THE FLOWERS ON A NEW BLUEBERRY BUSH TO ENCOURAGE MORE LEAFY GROWTH FOR NEXT YEAR. BUT PETER SAYS THAT’S NOT NECESSARY. I DON’T RECOMMEND THAT IF PEOPLE WANT TO PRODUCE SOME FRUIT THE FIRST YEAR, GO FOR IT. JUST HAVE FUN WITH IT. IT’S GETTING PEOPLE OUTSIDE. IT’S GETTING PEOPLE IN TOUCH WITH SOIL, BUT YOU CAN DO IT AND IT’S SO MUCH BETTER NUTRITIONAL WISE. WHEN YOU’RE LOOKING FOR YOUR SPOT TO PLANT, PETER SAYS FRUITS AND VEGETABLES LOVE FULL SUN, SO LOOK FOR AN AREA THAT GETS AT LEAST 7 TO 8 HOURS OF FULL SUN IN THE SUMMERTIME. HAPPY GROWI

Updated: 5:05 PM EDT May 8, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Expert tips for planting a bountiful garden full of fruits, vegetables

Updated: 5:05 PM EDT May 8, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

So, you're thinking about planting a fruit, vegetable or herb garden this spring? NewsCenter 5 went to Weston Nurseries for some advice from Peter Mezitt about how to pick plants and nurture a successful garden. For starters, he advises selecting a garden location that receives at least 7-8 hours of sunlight during the summer months. Mezitt highlighted zucchini and summer squash as prolific producers."You want to plant these three to a pot, mound up a little hill and give them some nice soil. They all usually produce," Mezit said. Butternut and acorn squash may not yield as much as zucchinis, but they can produce eight to 12 fruits per vine. Mezitt also suggested eggplants as easy to grow and rarely affected by disease problems.Tomatoes are a popular choice for spring and summer gardeners. With a wide range of varieties, each needing a different height for growth, Mezitt emphasized the importance of picking the right plant for your space. Brussels sprouts require patience, taking 120 days to mature, with harvesting in the fall. Mezitt also mentioned that some vegetables, like cabbage, take all summer to grow for one harvest.For growing berries, Mezitt said gardeners may need to exercise more patience. He said strawberry plants produce more fruit in their second year as the plant establishes itself. While it's often recommended to snap off flowers on a new blueberry bush to encourage leafy growth, Mezitt said, "I don’t recommend that if you want to produce fruit the first year, go for it."Regardless of what you pick, Mezitt hopes all gardeners enjoy the process."Just have fun with it. It's getting people outside and getting people in touch with soil." He added, "You can do it, it’s so much better health-wise (and) nutrition-wise."

HOPKINTON, Mass. —

So, you're thinking about planting a fruit, vegetable or herb garden this spring?

NewsCenter 5 went to Weston Nurseries for some advice from Peter Mezitt about how to pick plants and nurture a successful garden. For starters, he advises selecting a garden location that receives at least 7-8 hours of sunlight during the summer months.

Mezitt highlighted zucchini and summer squash as prolific producers.

"You want to plant these three to a pot, mound up a little hill and give them some nice soil. They all usually produce," Mezit said.

Butternut and acorn squash may not yield as much as zucchinis, but they can produce eight to 12 fruits per vine. Mezitt also suggested eggplants as easy to grow and rarely affected by disease problems.

Tomatoes are a popular choice for spring and summer gardeners. With a wide range of varieties, each needing a different height for growth, Mezitt emphasized the importance of picking the right plant for your space.

Brussels sprouts require patience, taking 120 days to mature, with harvesting in the fall. Mezitt also mentioned that some vegetables, like cabbage, take all summer to grow for one harvest.

For growing berries, Mezitt said gardeners may need to exercise more patience. He said strawberry plants produce more fruit in their second year as the plant establishes itself.

While it's often recommended to snap off flowers on a new blueberry bush to encourage leafy growth, Mezitt said, "I don’t recommend that if you want to produce fruit the first year, go for it."

Regardless of what you pick, Mezitt hopes all gardeners enjoy the process.

"Just have fun with it. It's getting people outside and getting people in touch with soil." He added, "You can do it, it’s so much better health-wise (and) nutrition-wise."

Expert tips for planting a bountiful garden full of fruits, vegetables

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