Planning next year’s garden because winter is a special time of year. A quiet time of reflection and rest. It is also a time to plan and dream of the future. Namely, future gardens. For me this year, I have a new garden to plan. A new area to care for and make flourish. Sure I was here last Spring. I moved in April, but I really didn’t have any time for planning the gardens or prepping the ground. Never did get the irrigation figured out or anything like that. I weeded the garden areas once, and that was before I planted anything. So to think I had any success last year, which I did, is quite amazing.
This year, I’m actually going to plan things out and add some perennials and hopefully schedule in some time to tend to the garden. I like the lazy garden route, don’t get me wrong, but there are limits. So where do I start? Well, lets start big, I guess. Then work my way down to the small details.
What do I want from my garden?
I want to grow as much food as I can. That’s a given. Sure I like flowers and ornaments, but the ultimate goal for my garden is to grow 100% of the vegetables that we will eat in the year. That is a tall order with two growing kids, but it is doable. I believe it. So that’s the main goal. It is not the only goal though. I also want to grow medicine.
I want to grow things that are herbal medicines also. Things like Ginger and Tea and Arnica and Feverfew and things like that. I want to use what I have for more than just soups. So that is going to take some planning.
I may plant a couple of fruit trees in the front also. Apple or Cherry. Not that I love either of them, but if I can creat some sort of income from the gardens, that would be a bonus. I plan to sell the excess of my gardens, but what is excess? I don’t know how many cucumbers I am going to use and how many will grow. Which makes it hard to know what to sell and what to keep. The Apples and Cherries are easier to decipher that. So they may be a good source of income, once they get established, which will take a few years.
Planning next year’s garden – What do I have to start
What I have right now in the back yard are 6 beds that are designed (by the previous owners) to be vegetable gardens. Each of which are roughly 2 ft. x 20 ft. On top of those, I have 3- 4ft x 4ft beds that are also for vegetables. I have a massive Raspberry patch, a very healthy Elderberry bush, some Golden Currents by the shed a healthy Mint shrub, and some Hops I started last year on the back fence. This yard gets all of the afternoon sun and in the summer can get quite hot. Which is great for most things.
The front yard is more traditional as of right now. There is a flower garden along the front of the house which is probably along the same size as the other long ones. 2ft. x 20ft. It doesn’t have a lot in it, and I’m okay with keeping it mainly flowers, as long as the flowers have purpose. I’m thinking Yarrow and Arnica, that sort of thing. I added a little garden by the front gate and planted some Daylilies and a Heliopsis. The Heliopsis will grow tall, so it will block the view of the patio area from the road. It’s not a busy road, but I had the Heliopsis from a client and I needed somewhere to plant it. So, there ya go.
I also have 4 half Whiskey barrels by the front door and a full barrel that is full of drilled holes which is meant for Strawberries. I plan to use the half barrels for greens. Lettuce, Spinach and Chard, and something else. They don’t get as much sun, mainly just the morning sun. My hope is they won’t get so burned out and the spinach won’t bolt so quickly.
Planning next year’s garden – What will we use?
In planning the garden, there is no need to waste the garden space just planting things to plant things. For example, I have tried a couple of times to grow Radishes. Why? Nobody in my house like radishes and the stupid flea beetle destroys them every time. So this year, no Radishes.
I will try Turnips again, because I like Turnips and if I can keep the flea beetle off them, they may come out okay. I’ll grow Tomatoes this year, but only 5 or 6 plants. No need to go crazy. Peppers, yes. Lots of Peppers. and Carrots. Potatoes, of course. The afore mentioned Lettuce and Spinach along with Chard in the front. I like Beets, so well plant beets. Squash, Zucchini, Cucumbers, sure. Maybe I’ll try Broccoli and Corn this year, since I have the space. Peas and Beans are always good, and Onions. Garlic, can’t forget the garlic, though it should be in the ground already, I missed that stage of the fall, so they are wintering in my cold storage and I’ll get them in the ground as soon as I can in the spring.
How about Perennials
On top of the perennial plants that I already have, there are only a few I would like to add this year. Namely Strawberries and Asparagus. If I can get an Apple or Cherry tree, that would be amazing, but bonus for sure.
Well, I guess the herbs that I would like to have are also considered perennials, so there are more than two. The usual, Basil, Thyme, Rosemary, Oregano. I can keep them in pots and bring them inside in the winter. Along with Lavender again. I’ve tried Lavender more than any other plant and it keeps dying. Always my fault, but I’ll try again. I also want to start Ginger, again in a pot so I can bring it inside, but I had luck with it once before so I want to try it again.
Then there are flowering plants like Arnica, Echinacea, Yarrow and that sort of thing that I can add also.
Planning next year’s garden – Time to draw it out
It is at this point in the planning where it is time to draw it out. Up until now it has been a process of brainstorming and dreaming. Now it is time to figure out where all these things are going to go. Also, to figure out who can be next to who. I think this page is getting long enough and if you made it this far I thank you. Please check out Drawing next years garden to keep going in the process. Also check out SOUL for even more options and guidance.