Now is the time to plan if you had a garden this year, what worked, what didn't, what would have if you had gotten it in the ground on time.? If you haven't had a garden before watch where the sun is or maybe watch where the shade is anyway you look at it know your yard/field.
Next is the fun part, you decide just what you want to eat next year! I know what you're thinking, "how can I know what I will want to eat next Spring and Summer?" When we shop we usually get the same things over and over, we tend to use the same 21 or so meals all the time, so you kinda know what you will be eating. Also don't forget to add a few things you don't usually eat but think it would be fun to grow, if you are using seeds what's a dollar or two for the sake of science ;).
By this time it's probably Winter you have watched your yard for the perfect place, decided what worked and what didn't last year, or devised a plan for what you want if you have never gardened before. That's a lot and you haven't even gotten dirty yet, but that is coming! Here is the last task to be done over warm coffee or tea with colored pencils or crayons and tons of paper or a couple pages at least. Draw your garden with every seed, plant, and stake. How long will your rows be? Answer all the questions now so when it is time to dig you will feel sure and confident you know what you are doing!
Drum roll please.... It's time to dig/till get yucky and dirty! About a month before the last frost, you will know it is time because you have checked on line to know when last frost is and you have started your seedlings inside in a south facing window. You walk to the perfect spot in your yard or the one that will work the best{ good drainage, lots of sun and you can keep the kids from running through it for the most part anyway,lol} and mark off the exact measurements you decided would work for you. I started with 20x20' too small for a family of 7 so next year it was 30x30 still too small for a family of 7 so this year coming up we may go 50x50 sounds huge but a family of 7 eats alot more than you think they will, and so will a family of 4 plan for that.
Begin in a corner with the tiller go down about a foot or so to get all the sleeping weed and grass roots make one good solid pass then you get the fertilizer of your choice, and go over the whole area. For me the fertilizer of choice is poo, any livestock poo is good, I like rabbit but I have rabbits, if you have goats or cows you may prefer that. You now get to work the poo into the garden by going back over the area one more time with the tiller. Give the Earth some good thoughts and walk away,save your energy for the seedlings inside, talking to them will help them grow and thrive.
When your days are getting warm start taking your seedlings outside for visits with the sun and wind, not too long at first but work up to several hours then just before dark, it should work out that that the seedlings will toughen up right before the last threat of frost. When the last frost has happened {I wait another week or two just to be sure} till the garden one more time and begin planting. I put my seeds in first then the seedlings. Because you have planned way better than me you will know which plants grow better beside whom, companion planting, I put everyone out there and force them to be friends,lol.
Having a successful garden to me is a lot like being a successful Witch, yes you can make do with whatever you have been thrown but when you plan it out and do it right, nothing can stop you because everything is working with you!
Shameless plug check me out @ The Witch's Way Homestead on Facebook!!
Drum roll please.... It's time to dig/till get yucky and dirty! About a month before the last frost, you will know it is time because you have checked on line to know when last frost is and you have started your seedlings inside in a south facing window. You walk to the perfect spot in your yard or the one that will work the best{ good drainage, lots of sun and you can keep the kids from running through it for the most part anyway,lol} and mark off the exact measurements you decided would work for you. I started with 20x20' too small for a family of 7 so next year it was 30x30 still too small for a family of 7 so this year coming up we may go 50x50 sounds huge but a family of 7 eats alot more than you think they will, and so will a family of 4 plan for that.
Begin in a corner with the tiller go down about a foot or so to get all the sleeping weed and grass roots make one good solid pass then you get the fertilizer of your choice, and go over the whole area. For me the fertilizer of choice is poo, any livestock poo is good, I like rabbit but I have rabbits, if you have goats or cows you may prefer that. You now get to work the poo into the garden by going back over the area one more time with the tiller. Give the Earth some good thoughts and walk away,save your energy for the seedlings inside, talking to them will help them grow and thrive.
When your days are getting warm start taking your seedlings outside for visits with the sun and wind, not too long at first but work up to several hours then just before dark, it should work out that that the seedlings will toughen up right before the last threat of frost. When the last frost has happened {I wait another week or two just to be sure} till the garden one more time and begin planting. I put my seeds in first then the seedlings. Because you have planned way better than me you will know which plants grow better beside whom, companion planting, I put everyone out there and force them to be friends,lol.
Having a successful garden to me is a lot like being a successful Witch, yes you can make do with whatever you have been thrown but when you plan it out and do it right, nothing can stop you because everything is working with you!
Shameless plug check me out @ The Witch's Way Homestead on Facebook!!
