GARDEN TIP:⁠ HARNESSING SOLAR ENERGY WITH A SHEET OF PLASTIC⁠ ⁠ Sure, light from the sun helps make our gardens grow, but it can also solve some common problems we all encounter. If you’ve had trouble with a persistent soil-borne disease or pest such as nematodes, you can try solarizing it with clear plastic sheeting before planting, provided the bed is a location that gets full sun.⁠ ⁠ First, remove all mulch and debris from the bed and wet the soil if it’s dry. Then lay the sheeting over the area, weighing down or burying the edges to trap solar energy. Use bricks or rocks to keep the plastic a few inches above the soil surface and keep the plastic in place for at least three weeks.⁠ ⁠ If you garden in a cold climate, this will also help to warm your soil for spring planting of cool-season crops like broccoli, lettuce, and peas. If a late frost threatens after planting, cover the bed again with the plastic until temperatures rise above freezing. This technique is particularly helpful...