How to Plan a Garden (For YOU)
When I first began gardening I felt like I needed to grow this or that because other people were growing this or that. But what I realized, eventually, is that those things weren’t worth it for me.
Now, I’m not saying that those things are bad to grow or that I condemn those other people for growing those things. There is nothing wrong with growing things that didn’t have value to me.
Except for me. It is wrong for me to spend my precious time and energy on things that aren’t of worth to me and my family.
So here I am to help you plan your garden with YOU and YOUR family in mind. Not the blogger, not the neighbor, not the other gardener.
Do you want to learn how to make the best bread ever right in your own kitchen?? Head here to learn how and make your very own loaf!
You and your family.
After all, you are the one putting in the work. You should be the one to enjoy the fruits of your labor (quite literally). And nobody enjoys things that take up more time than they are truly worth.
Step 1
Figure out what you and your family LIKE to eat.
Look around your fridge, pantry and meal plan. What is there that you can grow? Do you love potatoes? Peppers? Loathe lettuce? (It is OK, you don’t have to like lettuce.)
Now write those things down.
Step 2
Research those things that your family would eat.
So now you need to research those veggies or fruits your family would love to eat. Look up what the growing requirements are, how much space they need in the garden, what the yield is like, and how to store them long term.
If there is something that doesn’t yield a ton but takes up a lot of precious space (I’m looking at you brussel sprouts) then maybe let somebody else grow it. If there is something that you don’t love to store/preserve because it is a lot of work or doesn’t always work then skip it or grow it in small quantities just for fresh eating.
Step 3
Plan the Layout
Next you need to do a rough sketch of the garden and try to plug in the veggies accounting for the spacing they need.
If you find you run out of space you’ll have to make some decisions regarding what you choose not to grow.
I’d recommend starting with the veggies that aren’t as fast to be eaten in your house, or the veggies that don’t keep as well, or the veggies that take the most work to preserve.
Step 4
Start Seeds or Get Seedlings
Once you have the plan it’s onto the actual work of acquiring those plants. You can either start seeds yourself or you can go to the nearest nursery and buy seedlings.
If you choose to get seedlings you won’t do that until the garden is prepped and the frost date is about passed.
However if you choose to start your own seeds, some need to be started as early as January or February (for us northerners). If you need ideas on how to start seeds this is a great post.
Step 5
Grow and RECORD
When the garden is prepped (see this post for how to prepare your garden in the spring) and the seedlings are planted, pat yourself on the back. The hardest part is over.
Now you just have to be in maintenance mode. Keep the weeds in check (or don’t, it’s up to you), water, keep pests down, occasionally fertilize if it needs it, and you’ll be rewarded.
BUT you need to start recording things.
Start recording when the first plants blossomed, what pests were bad, when the first fruits appeared, when the first harvests began and most importantly, how much was harvested. Also record how you preserved those fruits and veggies, how long they lasted and how well they tasted.
If at the beginning of the new garden season you have a ton of canned tomatoes left over, you probably didn’t need to grow as many. Or if the winter squash all rotted before it was eaten maybe grow less of it.
When you look back you can see what plants produced the most, which took the most work, and which your family enjoyed the most. Then the next year you’ll have an even better idea of what works best for YOUR family.
1 thought on “How to Plan a Garden (For YOU)”