It’s that time again! The seed and garden supply catalogs are rolling in! There’s nothing like pouring over them on a cold day anticipating fresh food, flowers and herbs come summer.
If you are new to gardening, buy a book
Even seasoned gardeners need to plan, and every year is different, meaning much of it is new to us, too!
I hope you kept a garden journal last year! If so, refer to it to see what worked and what didn’t. If not, start that habit now, even if it’s just scribbling in an old notebook.
> Measure your growing areas, and draw out plans. The more you have done before you plant a single seed, the more organized and relaxed you will be, freeing up your time and energy for other things.
> Always rotate your crops, planting in new places each year. This cuts down on diseases and insects. The soil benefits from crop rotation, too, because different plants use and disperse different soil nutrients.
> Put long-season crops in the warmest spots. That would be right out my kitchen door. I put tomatoes and peppers in containers right out front. My main vegetable garden is in a cool spot, so greens, herbs, raspberries and short season vegetables grow there.
> Buy heirloom and open-pollinated seed, and save some for next year. You can NOT save a seed from an F1 hybrid and get the same plant. Hybrids are made by cross-pollinating two plants with different characteristics to make a ‘highly desirable’ plant. The seed it produces will give you one of the parents. If you buy hybrid seed every year, you will have to keep buying seed. If you buy open-pollinated seed, you can save your own. Screw Monsanto!
> Consider building a cold frame
No matter what you choose to plant or how and where to plant it, start planning NOW! I know it’s hard to think of summer this time of year, but winter is the season in which to turn your gardening dreams into reality.
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hehe loved all the great info for noobs like me…and also loved the monsanto line ;)
lol Thanks, Betty. Couldn’t resist. Monsanto pisses me off. If you are new to gardening, have fun! One farmer I worked for said, ‘If you want to feel like a farmer, grow beans.’ lol He meant they are easy to grow, you can barely screw them up, and you’ll feel proficient as a newbie. Good luck! You can go through the Gardening category here for more info, and I’ll be posting throughout the season. Stay tuned, or subscribe! :) Thanks again!
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