While we are resurrecting old series, how about gardening! I loved how writing about my garden plans each month kept me "on track" all year in 2009. Last year I seemed to always be behind - which could have been from just avoiding the garden because of the drought.
I hope that writing about my garden plans each month is helpful to someone - but if not, my garden will benefit!
What is there to do in the garden in January? Not much if you live where I do! The ground is frozen solid, and to be honest, I'm enjoying the break. As much as I would love a year round harvest, I actually enjoy the change of seasons. Even my hoop house has petered out. I can still pick a leaf or two of lettuce for a sandwich but most of it is in no shape for a salad.
But January is an exciting month for me because of all the seed catalogs! I love drawing up a new garden plan, picking out new (and old) varieties to try, and dreaming of the perfect garden I'll have this year!
My January Plans
Reflect...on what did and did not work in the garden last year.
Learn...new solutions, tips, and techniques to try this year.
Plan...this year's dream garden.
Purchase...seeds. I like to get my mail order in early before the spring rush.
Read to Learn
I'm a huge proponent of reading. You can learn so much just by finding good resources. My companion right now is several seed catalogs which I pour over with a pen to circle everything that catches my eye. I also have several gardening books that I'm either reading or perusing in hopes to become a better gardener next year.
If you don't have some garden related reading material near by, it isn't hard to find. Seed companies appear to relish the opportunity to fill your mailbox with free catalogs, which not only sell seeds but also share garden information. Even our small town library has a great selection of gardening books. I'll share some of my favorite gardening books next week, but I'll mention a few favorite seed catalogs to get you started.
I should mention that I'm in the northeast US. I had never really thought about it, but Steve Solomon emphasizes the importance of purchasing seeds from a supplier located near you who has tested and trialed their seeds in your climate. I usually choose only one or two companies to order from each year to save shipping.
Some of the catalogs I'm enjoying this year are:
Stokes Seeds
Johnnies Selected Seeds
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
So, if your garden activity is limited this time of year, find a comfy chair and curl up with a stack of gardening reading. Spring will be here before you know it - but you'll be ready!
Related Links:
Before ordering from a new (to me) seed company, I like to check out their rating at the Garden Watch Dog.
If you are from the northwest, check out the favorite garden companies at Oregon Cottage.
Amy at Homestead Revival had a good list of things to consider when ordering seeds.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
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So glad you are feeling better and back to posting.
ReplyDeleteWe are mainly growing soil this coming year. Have so much to plan ahead. Use and storage are a big factor in gardening here. We don't have enough time or room just yet to grow enough to make canning a good option. We'd wind up paying higher A/C bills just to heat up the kitchen for tads here and there. Severely limited freezer space. So . . . . Have to figure the best things to grow and use as we go and store very little. Hope to get a dehydrator, but need to wait on large purchases. Until the house is paid off, a dehydrator would have to be awfully productive to pay its way. Life is a juggling act around here! LOL ~Liz
We have a 2200 sq. ft lot between our house and our neighbors and our landrlord just gave us permission to turn it into a garden. We are all thrilled(our neighbors and I decided to do everything 50/50 with it)but are concerned about what to do about soil. Right now the lot is covered with fill sand so we have to have someone come and dump dirt/soil in it but are concerned about cost. Any suggestions for what would be best and affordable?
ReplyDeleteI will enjoy hearing about your garden. My gardener son was ready to PLANT last week when we had a major warm-up =) Fortunately the garden catalogs are arriving so he has plenty to look at while we make our plans. We still have dirt to move around the new house and our entire yard to landscape! It will be a busy time when it's really spring.
ReplyDeleteWe bought our seeds last year from Baker Creek...we are very happy with them!
ReplyDeleteI am going to love this series...we are pretty new to gardening, learning alot...
I love this time of year for pouring over cataloges also. Just wanted to pass on another seed supplier for you. Heirloom Seeds is based right in your neck of the woods (PA). I ordered from them a couple years ago (I over ordered!) and every single thing from them has done wonderfully! I dont care for their website but the product is worth it.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on planning the dream garden. I hope you have better luck next year with the weather.
I love to read your gardening posts. They are inspiring and informative!
ReplyDeleteGina, I hadn't heard about the Watch Dog - I'll check it out. And thank you for linking to Homestead Revival and the kind words!
ReplyDeleteI love to hear all of your garden plans! Glad I'm not the only one who can't totally leave the garden - even if it is winter!
ReplyDeleteoceans5 - I really have no experience with getting dirt. But maybe some of you other readers have some suggestions.
Gina
Gina,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that you are doing this series. I know it will be very helpful to me. We live in south central Pa so I'll be watching closely for what you plant and when;) I ordered all the catalogs you recommended and can't wait to sit down and look through them my cup of tea and some homemade bread (when you do that post!;)
Thank you so much for doing this series. I will be an eager reader - anxiously awaiting next month's installment!
ReplyDeleteI recently felt inspired and I plan on putting together a gardening series of my own - teaching women in my community to plant organic victory gardens in their suburban yards. I've learned that for some reason many of my friends and acquaintances associate me with gardening - I guess I've been pretty passionate about it locally! But as a student of life, I am constantly learning, tweaking, and reinventing myself to learn more and do more with my gardening!
Ocean 5 - in my experience, soil is 75% of your gardening success. It pays BIG to do the soil right. We have always spent the big bucks to truck in rich, organic composted dairy manure and top soil into our yard EVERY YEAR. My neighbors do not do this and plant with the soil they have. However, come harvest time, no one can believe how big and beautiful and boutiful our crops are in comparison. We were even featured in the local paper! Granted, we shouldn't compare, but the difference is quite obvious. So my advice is to go ahead and spend several hundred dollars to get the best quality top soil you can truck in.
ReplyDeleteWe have been improving our soil for four years now and I think this year will be our best yet.
Started seed shopping yesterday. We recieved a few catalogs before the holidays, but have been inundated with them since. I look through them all, but my favorites are Gurneys and R.H. Shumway. My Sweetie likes Hart seeds which we purchase at a local gardening store.
ReplyDeleteOur selection is usually very basic. We don't have lots of space for experiments, but I have a new herb garden started last year and want to add some new stuff there. I specifically look for perennial herbs, but want to try some funky ones like stevia and lemon verbena, both will need to be brought in for the winter, or I'll save seeds. I haven't done much with the perennial flower beds since we moved 'cause the landscaping is not done yet. Most all my perennials were brought from the old place and transplanted here. They are doing well even though they aren't in the ideal setting. We have purchased several blueberry bushes and the girls gave me a Macoun apple tree for mother's day last year. All of them are doing very well. I can't think of any chore I enjoy doing more than getting into the garden. I wish I had no other responsibilities and could do that full-time. I guess there's always "retirement" to look forward to :)
Happy gardening everyone.
We're thinking along the same lines, Gina! Thanks for linking to me, too-
ReplyDeleteJami
An Oregon Cottage