Thursday, January 28, 2010

Common Sense Gardening

It makes common sense to get the most from your garden and the space you have available. When proper planning is used, even a small garden can produce large amounts of produce for you and your family. When adding compost or fertilizer, don’t forget to use a little common sense at the same time.

Common Sense Gardening Tips

1.) Have your seeds and seedlings available prior to the start of your growing season. Don’t wait till the last minute when seed stocks or seedlings may be in short supply. It’s important to remember that you probably won’t be the only person planting a garden.

2.) Prepare and cultivate the soil for your garden ahead of the planting season as soon as possible and always use plenty of compost. Proper conditioning of your soil prior to planting is an essential step. This will give your seeds and seedlings better conditions for best growth right from the start of your growing season.

3.) Plan your garden so that your plants when mature will cover the entire garden area. This will allow you to maximize all the available space in your garden and help increase the yield from your crops and get the most from your garden.

4.) Choose high yield vegetable varieties that are well suited for the planting zone in your area. Smaller and more compact plant varieties that produce heavier crops will give you higher yields for your efforts creating less work for you.

5.) Choose plant varieties that are of a hardier nature. Depending upon your temperature zone, you may need varieties that are cold hardy, drought or heat resistant or that are not vulnerable to certain pests or plant diseases that may be common in your area.

6.) If possible, attempt to extend your growing season. Use cold frames or a greenhouse to increase the length of your growing season. This is especially important where colder temperatures place severe limits on your growing season.

7.) Pay attention to your garden. Check your garden often to avoid or minimize damage and destruction by pests or plant diseases. A garden can be ruined and all your crops lost in a short period of time leaving you with little or nothing to show for your efforts.

8.) Don’t forget your garden tools! They are as important as any other part of your gardening activities. Make sure handles are in good shape and the cutting or chopping edges are sharp. Keep a good pair of work gloves handy to help prevent or reduce possible injuries. Protect that thumb while it’s turning green!

9.) Take advantage of the experiences of your friends, neighbors and relatives. Quite often many people will be more than willing to share their successes, as well as their failures. This will help you avoid mistakes that others may have already made or help to give you a head start in the right direction.

Successful gardening can be quite a challenge. It can also be great fun. All you need to remember is to add a little common sense to your garden.

Here is a link to a free online vegetable garden planner to help in planning your garden.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

12 comments:

Bitmap said...

RE: #8

A shotgun with a light mounted on it is one of the best garden tools around. They have been converting furry garden raiders into protein for a long time.

Grumpyunk said...

Utilize vertical space. Trellis or support climbing plants, beans, peas, cukes, etc. Saves space on the ground and utilizes space that's being wasted. Even small melons can be done in this manner if you tie them up right and support the heavy stuff with a sling of some kind.

And RW is right about getting your seeds now. I've heard there may be less available this year due to last years cold, wet season.
Get set up to start them indoors and transplant them yourself and save the cost of buying plants.

Then learn to save your seeds so you can mostly eliminate buying them in the future.

Mayberry said...

Four pickup loads of mulch (free mulch!) and counting. Tunin' up the tiller, seed in hand, just a-waitin' for March...

Worm Castings said...

The quality of your seeds is so important for a successful garden. Forget the seeds from the local hardward store or big box. They've probably been setting around since last season. Fresh, viable seeds will give you better results. Buy from seed companies direct. If you're in the south, Park Seeds will have seeds that suit your climate best. They're vacume packed and fresh. Store your leftover seeds in air tight containers with one of those moisture absorber packs and keep in the fridge. A good article with sound advice. Happy gardening!

Susan said...

Hi! I just "discovered" the Preppers networks. I'm really happy to find you. I have a blog on self-reliance, saving money and preparedness and am happy to keep learning from others, as well as share anything I have. Thanks for all your great info!
--Susan--
http://thereliantself.blogspot.com

Ken said...

...five years without a garden...three since the last of the 'maters...

...man,am i slackin'...gonna plant sumthin' this year,even if its me...lol

riverwalker said...

To: Bitmap

Shotguns are great for getting rid of weeds also...LOL

A little expensive to do it in that manner and doesn't work if you live in the city...local LE take a pretty dim view of that kind of weed removal. Ha Ha!

Thanks Bitmap!

RW

riverwalker said...

To: Grumpyunk

I use old cattle panels to train the cucumbers to grow up instead of out...even though I have plenty of room.

Thanks Grumpyunk!

RW

riverwalker said...

To: Mayberry

Keep your shovel handy...that's a lot of mulch!

Thanks Mayberry.

RW

riverwalker said...

To; WormCastings

I've noticed a lot of websites with the little "out of stock" buttons already...and it's still January.

Have a good harvest!

Thanks WormCastings!

RW

riverwalker said...

To: Susan

Great to here that Montana's got some "preppers" also...way to go!

Stop by as often as you like. preppers are always welcome on Stealth Survival!

Thanks Susan!

RW

riverwalker said...

To: Ken

Nice to hear from you again...but really three years without fresh 'maters? You are probably having withdrawal symptoms for sure! Time to grab that hoe and go to work...

Thanks my friend!

RW

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