I don’t know about you, but I am so bad about writing down notes about how the garden went throughout the season. But here is my notes from my 2023 garden:
PLANT EARLIER!!! yes, I planted so late this year. Last year I planted late because of buying our new property. Which I am so excited we did. I figured this year I would start on time with the planting. But since my husband convinced me to rip out all the vegetable beds and make the foundation of my garden better, it took me awhile to get to the point where I can actually plant. I am so glad my husband helped me with this huge project. It allowed me to do the things I missed the first time I put the garden together. It allowed me to rotate my design 180 degrees to reflect where we enter the garden the most. Which made more sense after using this area for a year now. Also I was able to install water spigots in every bed so I can shut off the beds that are not in use.
START SEEDS EARLIER– I am usually really good about this, but this year was my first year trying to figure out where my seed starting area is going to be. After figuring out the garage is the only area I can use, I ordered a small green house to have inside my garage. This helps keep the heat in the greenhouse with the lights, heating mat and space heater. The seeds had a nice warm area to grow. We use our garage everyday and I needed a way to keep the seedling safe and warm, so the greenhouse was the best option. This will also be where I store some of the root veggies during the fall and winter until I’m ready to start seeds next year.
DON’T START TOO MANY SEEDLINGS! – I tell myself this every year and every year I plant a full flat of tomato plants (72 plants). A different variety in each 6 cell container. But yet I only have room for maybe 2-3 of each variety. When I grab those little seeds, and think of all the people I can give the extra plants to or even sell, I start to over plant. Then I got overwhelmed and all my extra plants ended up in the compost. I did this with flowers this year too. I planted all these seeds that I didn’t have a spot for. But we all know, I will still start way to many plants again next year.
DON’T ORDER TO MANY SEED PACKETS!– I put this in here, even though I know I will be ignoring this note. If you know, you know. Seed addiction is a real thing.
DON’T OVER PLAN– I’m a huge planner. I have my mile long dream list that I break down every year to accomplish. Nothing wrong with that, but sometimes I bite off more than I can chew. It doesn’t bother me too much, but I’m sure it bothers my husband with all of my unfinished projects everywhere lol But he still loves me and loves to see and show off the finished (or almost finished) projects.
WEED, WEED, WEED- I put this in here for everyone else, because I am always on top of the endless weeds. lol If you don’t know me, I’m being sarcastic. I don’t know one person who has a perfectly weeded garden at all times. But next year I want to start a schedule that I know I will most like NOT keep up with, but the idea sounds nice. I don’t know about you, but there is something relaxing about putting on a podcast or music and weed in peace. If you REALLY want to get into it, make yourself a strong drink and call it a date.
FERTILIZE- I did really well on this for the most part until the last month of the growing season… but plants didn’t show signs of nutrition deficiency until the end of the season. Which at that point, I figured I will be pulling those plants in the next few weeks. Why waste fertilizer.
PLAN OUT WHICH PLANTS WILL GO IN WHICH BEDS- You don’t want to start planting and notice you over planted one type and you don’t have room for others. I just want to clear the air on this one… I planted 3 beds of garlic this fall… I bought WAY to much garlic bulbs and now I have 3 2’x10′ beds of it… But my thought was to use the garlic plants as a deterrent for aphids and other pest you would have in the garden. I’m still going to pop a clove here and there, to TRY to keep the aphids away.
TAKE CARE OF PEST ASAP– Sometimes I don’t notice an infestation until its too late. It starts small and I get out my organic bug spray thinking I’m getting this problem under control. A few weeks later the problem gets worse. Then I throw up my hands after spraying for several weeks with no end in site. I harvest the veggies, wash off the aphids and peel off the outer layers of the cabbage and call it good. This next year I have a plan, garlic! That’s it, that’s my whole plan. I’ll probably try to plant host plants that will keep my veggies clean of pests. But for right now, garlic!
Please leave me a comment on some of your notes from the growing season, I would love to read about it.