Planning For Spring

Planning For Spring

It might be cold outside, but January is the perfect month for planning your spring garden. Coming up with a plan is important, especially if your space is limited. There are three things you want to consider when planning. First up are the space and sunlight requirements for the plants. Be sure that the locations you want to grow them in match their requirements. Plants that require full sun should be planted in an area with little shade. The South and East sections of your home are the best place for those. Plants that will tolerate partial shade will grow well on the West and North sides. If space is limited, avoid growing plants like squashes, cucumbers, gourds and beans that vine, since those need a lot of room to spread out. Smaller vine plants like the beans can be grown if you have a good way to trellis them. If you don't mind a few small holes in your siding, beans can be trellised right up the side of your home. Container gardens work well for limited space as well. Tomatoes for example, can be grown successfully in a five-gallon bucket and a trash barrel can yield over 100 pounds of potatoes!

Next up is the compatibility of the plants. Some plants, like certain squashes for example, will cross-pollinate and yield some unexpected results. Others, such as cucumbers attract insects like the cucumber beetle, that will also feed on Tomatoes, so it's important to know which pests the plants are likely to attract and plan accordingly.

Speaking of compatibility, Chamomile and Marigolds are often planted in between veggies to ward off pests as well as deter rabbits. Companion planting, as it's called, is a great way to help keep your plants healthy without the use of pesticides. 

Here's another tip: Plant what you'll use. If you don't like Radishes, for example, don't waste your time growing them. It might sound simple, but we as gardeners, will sometimes get so excited about trying to grow new things, especially when someone gives us seeds or bulbs, that we forget that we can use the space to grow the things we love instead. 

Last but not least, choose your seeds and  buy them early. Delays in shipping, price and even sometimes availability can leave you scrambling last minute to get your garden going. You don't want to have to start your seeds in July, so it's best to plan early. 

Knowing what you want to grow and planning for the space and nutritional requirements will not only provide you with a garden you can be proud of, but it will yield a harvest that will keep you happy during the cold winter months.