Planning your patch, raised beds or garden. I have been planting seeds since the early 60's. Early lesson's learned, one of my single best gardens would be planted in 1973. My roommate and I turned turf, which was down a slope, full sun, and lower than the septic tank, very rich soil, which resembles the way the first gardens were tended. We all know that we must wash our produce, concerns for bacterium and viruses that might have landed on the produce as it moves from plant to grocery. There are vectors of transmission at every juncture of the journey. About 10 years ago, a load of melons contacted animal contagium that infected humans, but could not survive on the skins of melons. So there are rules of how to best enhance soils in your home garden. In a few weeks, I will do a blog on some of the numerous composting techniques, as well as commonly used additives that you can purchase at your nursery's.
Twice this winter, both plants and me, thought spring was around the corner. Good chance of light snow tomorrow or Saturday. Snow is not a good germinating temperature (except for humans, co-mingling on the slopes). Hence the greenhouse and the indoor window light, or full spectrum light, after the first leaves show. It is temperature and moisture that initiates the germination. Plants have their natural habitat, and plants from the far north need a tepid sun warming, while those of equatorial origin need a very warm stimulus. It is very hard to grow Irish Moss in Egypt, or Banana's in Norway or Siberia. Typically, on the back of seed packets, you will find simple information about where to grow, and when to start. Partial sun, full sunlight and mostly shade are the simple instruction about where to grow. Regional information is the determinant of whether you can even expect success for plants in your garden. Remember that the position of the sun moves north, and then returns south during the peak growing season. Also remember that tall plants may shade others as they mature.
I managed a local BIPOC farm project with Blackfoods.org and OHSU extension. With much more land, and intended to supply a non-profit restaurant, variety, numbers of different plants and very little shade, made for one set of calculations on choice of seeds and plants. At my new home, where the garden suffered a few years of neglect, my choices will be self-determining for the large part. Over half of my space already has fruit and nut trees, and a tall pine limits the areas with full sunlight. So; how will I go about choosing this year?
There are always some must have vegetables in this region. They are chosen by how much you like and use these vegetables and fruits, how abundant they are during the harvest season, in farmer's markets and grocery stores, and finally how much space you have to plant. Patio tomato's are marketed as such, but with the right sized planter, you can grow tomato's, squash, cucumbers, eggplants and many other commonly chosen top local plants. This way, you may find some full sun areas that are located on walkways, paths or decks. Watering for potted gardens is different than watering a patch or a full field. Potted soil needs to be turned and enhanced each year, but watering needs to be slow and steady for each pot.
So I have a garden to plan for a client, and I have to start my own garden as soon as this cold wet, late spring breaks free. I use seeds, some sprouted in 2" pots, others put into the soil as the time is right. I also get some plants from chosen nursery's, mostly to get earlier yields. And finally neighbor shares of starts and sometimes discounted plants as they come to the end of their time and season. And finally again, there are the winter over plants, than can be added throughout the season.
Next gardening blog will look at natural insect deterrents, and the care
needed to thin and maximally use the seeds that you sprout.
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