Planning to Plant

Planning to Plant

What’s the first thing we long for when the weather is cold? Even when you may live in a tropical climate like our Troops in Hawaii or the artic zones of Alaska’s Troops, we all look at a calendar and live by the seasons.  Winter is a time for remembering those outdoor adventures we’ve already had and planning for those to come.  Winter is a great time to curl up with a seed catalog and let your horticultural imaginations run wild.

Great resources for seeds:

http://rareseeds.com/

http://parkseed.com

http://www.seedsofchange.com

When the excitement crests and before you realize it’s still winter and start to shiver, it’s time to start planning.

My Planting Plan:  Phase 1
Do I want vegetables or flowers? Or both?		While it’s admirable to want to feed your family, you need to know your limitations.
Do I want an outdoor or indoor garden?		Start small and approach it step by step.
Do I have a place for my garden?
Is this a project I will need help with?		Work with others. Sharing space, seeds, plants and elbow grease builds community.
Can I commit enough time to this project?		A garden is like a pet: food, water and attention are needed regularly!
Do I want to start with seeds or plants?		There are advantages to seeds and plants. Investigate the plants you are interested in.
Do I have enough money for this project?		There are ways to use recyclables but be prepared to have expenses. You may even have to buy dirt!

  

While seeds will need to be ordered or picked up locally, plants should come from a reliable local nursery when you are ready to plant. But there is still a lot to do before planting seedlings!

To create a garden outside, you’ll need to do a little investigative work.

 What kinds of plants will grow in your area? Growing zones are determined by climate in an area. To find your growing zone, visit http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/ and enter your zip code. Knowing this information will be critical to choosing your plants. Seed packets and catalogs will list the hardiness or growing zone of the plant. You will also need to know when to plant. Broccoli, cabbage and lettuce like a cooler growing season; whereas, tomatoes, squash, and peppers grow best in hot weather.

My Planting Plan: Phase 2
Where will I put the garden?	Location. Location. Location.
Will it get enough sunlight?
Do I have a water source close by?
Is there adequate drainage?
Will I plant in the ground or in raised beds or in containers?
How much space will it take?	Vines need more space! Can your plants be trellised? Think vertically when possible.

You really don’t have to own a mule or a tractor to garden.  And you don’t have to plant in the ground.  Once again, investigating what works best for the plants that interest you is the best approach.  Does the plant like free space to grow or will it thrive in a planter?

 If you are planting “in ground,” you may consider having your soil tested.  Contact a local agricultural extension office for information.  A soil test will tell you what adjustments need to be made in order to have a good growing medium.  Winter is the time to prepare your soil. Breaking ground, the day before you plant will only bring frustration.  It takes time to “work” the soil.

Decided on containers or raised beds?  Soil is still important.  Buying large bags of potting soil over several weeks will help with budgeting.  Cheap dirt is just that; make sure your soil has been properly treated for molds, fungi and critters.  When working with bagged soil, wear a particle mask.  Most garden supply stores keep these bags outside in the weather.  Bags become wet and molds grow.  Consider emptying your bagged soil into a large, outside bin so you can easily add composted, organic  material and keep it stirred until you’re ready to use it. You may even throw in a couple of worms!!

The best containers are those made of natural materials like terra cotta or wood.  When choosing a container, consider the size of the mature plant, the proper drainage, soil amount needed and whether the container will need to be relocated.  Raised beds can be just mounds of soil or large, usually long, containers with a minimum of 12 inches of soil depth.

My Planting Plan: Phase 3	Some plants, like beans and corn, will do fine
What will I grow?	planted directly in the ground.  Tomatoes,
How much yield do I want?	peppers, squash, melons, and most flowers
How many mature plants will I need?	perform better  as transplanted seedlings.
Which can be seeded in ground and which must be started indoors?	There are many resources available online to guide you as to when to plant and at what
When do I plant?	temperature.

Starting seeds indoors can be great fun!  Plan a proper place (probably not the dining room table) where moisture will not ruin a surface, drafts will not be a problem, temperature can be stable and lighting, whether natural or “grow lights” is adequate for germination.  Buying a package of seeds may yield more plants than you have room for so plan to share with others.  You must have a good starter soil and clean, sturdy containers to start seeds in.  Recycle yogurt cups, the bottom half of water bottles and even applesauce cups for seed starters. A couple of small drainage holes punched in the bottom and the container placed on a flat tray fits the bill.

There’s an interesting satisfaction in watching those little plants reach up through the soil.  Connect with the Gardening & Plant Science Badge or just grow for the fun of it.  Dream of warmer weather, beautiful flowers and fresh veggies while savoring that hot cocoa!  Then make those dreams come true.

Easy to grow from seeds	Easy to grow from nursery plants
Marigolds	Tomatoes
Zinnas	Peppers
Cucumbers	Herbs
Squash	Aloe
Beans	House plants of all sorts (check toxicity to pets before buying)
Sunflowers	Spider Plant