In the middle of winter, and with the dreaming of this year’s gardens, it is easy to get carried away.

But there are some things that you need to consider while you are dreaming and planning.

1. Know your ability. Are you a first time gardener or a beginner?  Are you an experienced gardener? Are there health or age issues that will affect your gardening efforts?  If you are just starting out as a gardener my advice is to start out small and see how things go for you and then you can expand or make changes from your experiences.
2. Know your site.  It is important to know the location of the garden you will be working with.  Consider carefully where the garden will be located.  Sun, part sun or shade are important things to consider.  Also, easy access to a water supply is important.  It is nice to have the garden in a convenient place, especially when you want to run out and quickly grab something for the meal you are preparing.  I garden in a small yard and have raised beds along the fence line, so I do have to deal with some shade issues.  But I can see all of my raised beds from my kitchen window and they are a pleasure to look at, and it is so easy to access.

   

3. Know your soil.  The success of your gardening efforts will be directly affected by your soil.  It may be worth the time and effort to have the soil tested.  Do what ever  is needed to bring the soil up to a good growing standard.  If the soil is very poor, maybe raised beds filled with good soil is the answer. I yearly use wheel barrow loads of mushroom compost on my growing beds, as both a fertilizer and a mulch.  I love the stuff!
4. Know your local climate and hardiness zone.
5. Know your personal taste.  If you are growing a garden for personal use, only grow what you will eat.  You don’t like radishes?  Don’t grow them!  Do you want to can lots of green beans?  Grow them!
6. Know the time commitment.  Gardening does take a considerable amount of time investment, especially if you are wanting to keep your garden looking nice.  Know how much time you are willing to invest in your garden.  If the garden, whether vegetable or flower, becomes overgrown and very weedy, it will become a discouragement.  Gardens should be a place of enjoyment, whether from beauty or bounty.
7. Know the bloom and harvest times.  The seed packets will give you this information of when to expect a harvest or blooms.  If you have grown a garden before you may have learned that you can get by with 3 or 4 zucchini plants instead of 12.  And I don’t recommend going on vacation when all  of your green beans are coming in!
8. Know your seeds and transplants.  Know what you are planting. Know the growth habits and eventual size of the plants. Know the sun, fertilizer and water requirements of each variety.  Know the companion plants.  Be careful of growing plants that can be invasive.

These are just some thoughts on what to consider when planning your garden this year.   Are you planning on growing a garden this year? Can you think of any other things to consider when planning a garden?  Comment and let me know what your plans are!

Happy Gardening!