23 Dec Tue 2008
Almost time to start another new year in the garden - plan for it
Winter time "gardening"
While it is not actual gardening, planning your gardens or on what to change/add... is very important and can save you some work in the long run.
Over this cold Winter is a good time to be planning your gardens.
Over this cold Winter is a good time to be planning your gardens.
Some folks think of this as a boring chore, but it can be fun !
Is there something you want to add, what didn't work so well last year and how will you try to fix the problem, would you like to find other uses for what you already grow ... like in a new recipe or for your own natural perfumes?
Take out a notebook or drawing pad and jot down notes about what kinds of things you want to grow and where you might like them to be and how will you use them.
Check on the proper growing conditions for the plants and for your area.
Do you have enough room for that plant/tree/vine ?
Is there something you want to add, what didn't work so well last year and how will you try to fix the problem, would you like to find other uses for what you already grow ... like in a new recipe or for your own natural perfumes?
Take out a notebook or drawing pad and jot down notes about what kinds of things you want to grow and where you might like them to be and how will you use them.
Check on the proper growing conditions for the plants and for your area.
Do you have enough room for that plant/tree/vine ?
Do you have the time or the help to devote to expaning your organic garden or to tending to difficult plants ?
Are there more uses than just food for that plant than you thought such as for perfumes or for healing, or to make baskets, or as a companion plant, or a trap plant, or to attract honey bees to polinate your fruit trees... ?
If so, then you may want to try to fit it in even if it does take up extra room or has special needs - it just might be worth a little extra effort.
It is possible to push the envelope a little with what you can grow if you are careful.
Even within your own yard, sometimes you can have micro climates that allow you to grow something that you shouldn't be able to in your area.
We can use the shelter of our house/shed/garage/taller plants/trees/... to give protection to more delicate plants and this might let us grow them even when the zone limit is borderline for us.
I am in zone 5 and I have easily been able to grow many zone 6 crops using mulch/sheltered spots/other plants as protection from wind... .
There are many tricks to help us, BUT learn the proper methods first because even then - success is not assured.
I do not want anyone to try to push the limits right off the bat and then give up - thinking that they cannot do well at organic gardening.
After you have figured out the basics, go for it and have fun experimenting in your own organic garden !
Are there more uses than just food for that plant than you thought such as for perfumes or for healing, or to make baskets, or as a companion plant, or a trap plant, or to attract honey bees to polinate your fruit trees... ?
If so, then you may want to try to fit it in even if it does take up extra room or has special needs - it just might be worth a little extra effort.
It is possible to push the envelope a little with what you can grow if you are careful.
Even within your own yard, sometimes you can have micro climates that allow you to grow something that you shouldn't be able to in your area.
We can use the shelter of our house/shed/garage/taller plants/trees/... to give protection to more delicate plants and this might let us grow them even when the zone limit is borderline for us.
I am in zone 5 and I have easily been able to grow many zone 6 crops using mulch/sheltered spots/other plants as protection from wind... .
There are many tricks to help us, BUT learn the proper methods first because even then - success is not assured.
I do not want anyone to try to push the limits right off the bat and then give up - thinking that they cannot do well at organic gardening.
After you have figured out the basics, go for it and have fun experimenting in your own organic garden !
Diana
12:59 PM EST