Gardening Begins in January With the Dream
Start Your Garden Planning Now
How It Begins
I am sitting at my desk, gazing out my window at the vegetable garden that I closed in November. Straw covers the beds and there is no green in sight. But my garden is very much alive and getting ready for spring growth as I already have my seeds and my plan in hand. If you are looking to start your own vegetable garden this spring, now is the perfect time to start dreaming and planning. Here are 3 important decisions to make now so you can start growing in the spring:
What do you want to grow?
Or really, what do you love to eat? Do you love crispy cucumbers, crunchy lettuce, sweet tomatoes and peppers? Figure out your “must haves” so you can learn how and when to plant them.
By taking the time to figure out what you want to plant now, you can curate amazing seeds from seed catalogs for truly exceptional plants. For example, you can grow regular carrots, or you can grow Cosmic Purple carrots, a stunning purple carrot with orange flesh. You can grow traditional radishes, or you can choose watermelon radishes, big, beautiful white skinned radishes with a sweet, pink flesh. Planning enables you to find special varieties for you to enjoy.
Where will you plant?
Location and type of garden (in ground, raised bed, container) is critical to figuring out your capabilities and plant options. Most vegetables require full sun –at least 6 hours of sunshine during the peak of the day, from 10 am – 4 pm. If part of your garden has partial shade, can you still plant? Some vegetables, like greens – lettuce, chard, kale, collards, arugula – can handle partial shade, and may benefit from it in the high heat of summer, but you need to know what each plant requires and ensure you have the right sun requirements for each variety.
The quality of the soil is critical as well. If you are using an existing bed or part of your yard with existing soil, a soil test is important to ensure that your plants have the nutrition needed to thrive. Now is the perfect time to send your sample to UCONN Soil testing to receive exact directions on amending your soil for ideal growth. For raised beds or containers, control the soil quality by purchasing high quality organic garden soil to start, or test your soil if you already have them filled with old soil.
How will you lay out the garden?
Considering your garden layout now is an important step to ensuring that each plant has the space they need to flourish, while finding ways to companion plant as well.
For example, if you are growing tomatoes, they may be the tallest plant in your garden. You want to plant them in the north side of your garden so they do not shade out your other plants. They need to be correctly spaced to give them enough room for their stakes or supports, enough air flow to prevent fungus, and enough nutrition to thrive. You want to maximize your space but not overcrowd. Plus, plan to add companion plants – basil and marigolds are great– to help fend off the many pests, like aphids and hornworms, that also want to eat your delicious tomatoes.
It may be cold and bleak outside, but your garden is waiting for you the moment your garden soil can be worked! By planning now, you won’t miss an opportunity to grow the vegetables you want this spring and summer. Did you know that you can plant peas as early as 4-6 weeks before the last frost date? Connecticut Zone 7’s last frost date is April 23rd – so you can get those peas in the ground as early as March 12! That’s just 8 weeks away!
Are you dreaming about a vegetable garden this spring but need help getting started? I am a master gardener who teaches people how to grow food. I can help you with anything from vegetable garden planning and plant selection, planting, and ongoing maintenance. Call me at (203) 856-1300 for a free consultation to see how I can help. You won’t regret growing your own food – the satisfaction from seed to table is amazing.
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