It’s that time of year! I have been thinking about this year’s garden for at least the last 2 months. I have my saved-seeds for about half of the varieties that I grow, and I purchased seeds on-line for the rest, so I’m all set. How about you? It was a cold, snowy winter and even recently, some of the wind chills have made my daily walk a challenge. In spite of this, my gardening gene kicked in right on schedule, and it’s never too early to start planning. If you are a veteran gardener, then you know what I’m talking about. If you are a new gardener, let’s get you started!
First – do you have a space in mind? Gardens need a fair amount of sun, approximately 6 hours per day, or more, so be sure to keep that in mind. I encourage you to start (somewhat) small because if you go too big, you can easily get overwhelmed. It’s more important to create a space you can really enjoy. The first garden I started when we moved in 30+ years ago is approximately 8 feet by 20 feet. It’s still there and is now part of a fenced-in area that also includes a sitting area, some herbs and some perennials. Without question, it is one of my favorite places.
Try to consider what it is you actually want to get out of your garden experience. Enough carrots to get you through the winter? Cut flowers for your dining room table? Extra zucchini and tomatoes to give to your neighbors? For me personally, it’s all of that and more. Although my real strength is vegetable gardening, I do manage to grow some nice fruits and flowers as well. I’m very particular about the varieties I want to grow, and it’s not always easy to find them at the local garden centers, so I like to start my own plants indoors. Plus I really enjoy watching as the seeds germinate and the plants grow.
You might consider actually mapping out what your garden will look like. I have created my own (hand-drawn) template for my gardens, and I use that to figure out where to plant things each year. I put the garden year on it and then compare this year’s plan to last year’s plan. It may sound a bit obsessive (did I say that??) but it really is helpful – I already know where I’m not growing my corn this year… The blank planning sheets and previous plans are kept in a garden file in my desk drawer.
I hope you find this helpful – these strategies have worked well for me over the years. I am grateful for the longer sunny days, and my anticipation of what lies ahead is growing. See you next time!
