It’s that time of year again, folks, time to plan your garden
to supplement that grocery bill. Let’s go over what will be covered in the
following weeks in this new blog series. I personally love gardening, canning, and preserving what is grown. Although I can no longer do the physical labor of
producing a garden, I can share my extensive knowledge, both practical and what
I learned while obtaining my degree in horticulture, with those who want to start a new
garden this year. So here is what we will discuss this year.
Draft Your Garden Vision
Take a moment to think about what type of garden you want
and how big you’d like it to be. If you had a garden last year, what did you
grow, how much did you grow, did you eat it all, or give most of it away to
neighbors or friends/family? So, let’s get started, grab some paper, and sketch
out your garden plans. Assess your space and consider what you’d like to make
and grow this year.
Establish a Gardening Budget
Once you have your garden designed, decide how much you can spend on it, as it is costly to begin with. Your budget should
consist of seeds, soil/amenities, indoor planting supplies such as grow lights,
heat pads, a fan to produce circulation to help plants grow stronger, plus grow
flats, etc. It can become costly for the first couple of years. So, start out
small and build from there. Plan your plant purchases for spring wisely.
Prioritize where you’ll allocate funds for plants, tools, and supplies to stay within budget limits.
Create Your Shopping List
Assess your garden thoroughly, identifying any bare patches
that may have resulted from winter die-off or pest infestations. Consider
revitalizing those hanging baskets and containers with vibrant new plants that
attract pollinators. Additionally, make a list of essential tools you might
need to purchase for effective gardening maintenance this season.
Start Seeds Indoors
Jumpstart your garden by sowing seeds indoors in
eco-friendly flats or pots. Position
them on a stable surface near a sunny window, or use grow lights to ensure
optimal light exposure for your seedlings' growth. This early start can lead to
healthier plants and an earlier harvest!
Explore an Indoor Garden
Even though it might still be winter, my old horticultural
professor, Dr. Shapiro, always encouraged his students to visit local botanical
gardens or museums that had indoor gardens to spark our thoughts for gardening.
My favorite gardening location he introduced us to was Longwood Gardens in
Pennsylvania. Check it out online or if you’re in the area, because it’s a day
out in the sunshine exploring all sorts of plants, flowers, and my favorite herb
gardens. These types of spaces provide not only lush greenery but also
educational exhibits that inspire year-round gardening. You can also visit the
orangeries at places like Mount Vernon in Alexandria, Virginia, or Monticello
in Charlottesville, Virginia. Both locations have wonderful gardens and often
have educational themed tours to learn about gardening and how the two founding
fathers cultivated many plants for their plantations. Another place that is truly worth your time visiting would be Williamsburg Colonial Village in Williamsburg, Virginia. Worth the visits.
Evaluate Storm Damage
We’ve had some crazy storms this past year; therefore, you
must evaluate your yard for any storm damage. That means possible branches
broken off or need pruning. If the trees in your yard are severely damaged,
cutting them down might be necessary, or just pruning dead twigs to help promote
new growth. Prune off any dead heads of garden plants and clean out any
infested mulch or soil in your beds.
Get Ready for Pruning
Late winter is prime time for pruning summer-blooming shrubs
like hydrangeas, just before new buds emerge. For guidance, refer to a
gardening book or consult your local extension office. Always adhere to the
recommended pruning schedule and make cuts at a 45-degree angle above an
outward-facing bud.
Spring migration brings delightful new visitors! Look out
for fresh green shoots and listen to the first robin's song in your yard. Keep
track of these signs annually; consider writing poetry or sketching the birds
and butterflies you encounter.
Start a Spring Journal
I believe in having a gardening journal to record what,
when, where, and why you planted a variety of plants. Note when things
sprout, the varied temperatures, weather conditions, and what amenities you used
from one year to the next. Did you have your soil tested to see what you need
to add before planting, etc? What is your yield on each veggie you planted, or
fruit you planted, and how many herbs did you get from a plant? All these items
will help you know what to plant each year and how much you will need to plant
to ensure you have enough to feed you and your family each year.
Elizabeth Kilbride is a Writer and Editor with 40 years of
experience in writing, 12 of which are in the online content sphere. Author of
5 books and a Graduate with an Associate of Arts degree in Business Management,
a bachelor’s in mass communication and cyber-analysis, a master’s in
criminology with emphasis on Cybercrime and Identity Theft, and is currently
studying for her Ph.D. degree in Criminology. Her work portfolio includes
coverage of politics, current affairs, elections, history, and true crime. Elizabeth
is also a gourmet cook, life coach, and avid artist in her spare time,
proficient in watercolor, acrylic, oil, pen and ink, gouache, and pastels. As a
political operative who has worked on over 300 campaigns during her career,
Elizabeth has turned many life events into books and movie scripts while using
history to weave interesting storylines. She also runs 7 blogs ranging from art
to life coaching, food, writing, Gardening, and opinion or history pieces each
week.
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