Saturday, March 31, 2018

Planning the 2018 Kitchen Garden


We begin each new gardening year with hope: not looking back to last year's failures, but forward to the coming successes. They say the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. While some may think gardeners are insane, 'Ha ha', they do what worked last year but do not expect a similar outcome. Success in the garden depends upon too many variables: what sort of winter we had, the upcoming weather, which bad bugs overwintered in your soil, the viability of saved seeds, and much more. As I sort new seed packets, however, I forget the capriciousness of gardening and remember only the joys. I feel a new, breathless awe every time I see that my first tray of seeds have germinated. This year is going to be a GREAT year in the garden!

Packeted seeds and saved seeds, for the new gardening year

I don't always get my new seeds from the same place. I decided to try Ferry Morse's organic selection for 2018. Ferry Morse was the largest seed suppliers in the world at one time. They are located in Massachusetts, therefore I feel their seeds should thrive in my northeast garden. I don't purchase plants or seeds from suppliers south of the Mason Dixon Line, or from other more exotic climes.  Recently, I acquired some seeds from the American Horticultural Society's (AHS) seed exchange. While it's great to receive free seeds, I was disappointed they were mainly last year's seed packets rather than seeds collected by gardeners from their gardens. Also, a 2017 packet of parsnip seeds from the AHS probably will not be viable as parsnip seeds need to be fresh each year. (I don't know what I was thinking when I added parsnips to my request list.) Previously, I have participated in Nancy Ondra's seed exchange and have been the recipient of her wonderful bounty.  Next year ...

I have developed a routine that I write about here every March. For newer followers of my blog: I begin by sorting the seed packets by the date they will be sown, then placing them in order in my trusty wooden seed box. I add each seed's sowing date to a calendar.


Next, I make a plan (a rough one but more-or-less to scale) of my kitchen garden's raised beds.  I write the name of the plant in the current year's location. The plan is important, so that I don't place the same vegetable or flower in the same spot as last year. This isn't foolproof for preventing disease, but it helps. I am not growing sunflowers at all this year, because the stem borer attacked two years running, even though I grew them in different locations.

This year's plan
As you probably know, I use raised beds and the square-foot gardening method.

When my planning is done, it's time to sow seeds -- according to their appropriate starting date. This week I began with tomatoes and snapdragons. I set up a seed-starting station on a card table in the dining room. I use table-top grow lights. I will direct-sow other seeds outside at the proper times.


My next step will be to prepare the garden beds by adding compost and putting suitable plant supports in place. I think most of the snow has gone, but it's still too cold for me to work outside. Maybe next week.

I love my cucumber frame. I bought this support from Gardeners' Supply

I have not forgotten my beautiful, new cold frame. I purchased seeds for lettuce, spinach, Kale, and other cool weather crops. I will direct-sow them in the cold frame as soon as the soil is workable.

Swiss chard grew successfully in the cold frame after the first frost

Another gardening spot is the herb garden, a waist-high trug on the patio near the back door. I will start some herbs from seed indoors, and will purchase some plant-starts from my local farm store. I will plant the herb garden after the date of the average last frost.

Herb Garden

Finally, my cutting garden is located in the kitchen garden. It is a long, raised bed down the length of one side. I will start zinnias, marigolds, and cosmos for cutting. Oh yes, and I started the snapdragons already.

Cutting garden on left hand side plus a few zinnias among the vegetables

Yes, it's going to be a GREAT gardening year. Can't wait to get out there!

What are your plans this year?

Pamela x




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15 comments:

  1. Here's to a great gardening season ahead! I love your open areas for veg gardening! I have so much shade here, but I have one spot in mind for some additional veg plants this year. Good luck!

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    1. Good luck to you too, Beth. Can't wait to get digging!

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  2. I have great plans for my vegetable garden this year, if only the weather would improve. It’s been too crummy to even plant my cool season plants. Darn!

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    1. Spring is a long time coming this year. I haven't planted my cool season crops yet either.

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  3. It seems you have the situation well in hand. Would that I were so well organized!

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    1. I've found that prepared or not, it works out. I was a librarian in another life, so need to be organized. My unprepared gardening friends seem to fare well though.

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  4. The start of the gardening season is so exciting, you never know what will happen from one year to the next but there's always so much potential. I hope everything thrives for you.

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    1. Thanks, Jo. Don't you miss your allotment? I miss reading about it, but you are so very busy I can understand why you let it go.

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  5. Pam, you are so incredibly organized! I'm sure it pays off at harvest time and your garden looked great last year. I'm sorry to hear that you too are experiencing colder than average weather -- our soil temps are still very cold and the next ten days look overcast and chilly. :-( It's time for spring to arrive! Hope you can get out to work soon. Best, -Beth

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    1. Thank you, Beth. Yes,it's time spring arrived. I haven't planted my cool weather crops yet.

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  6. Looking forward to sharing your gardening experience this season Pam. Definition of insanity, I reckon I can kind of relate to this.

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    1. I try very hard not to repeat mistakes, Allistair, but another saying is, 'You can't teach an old dog new tricks.' I can relate to that one too.

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  7. What a great post, Pam. I'm working on being more organized with my gardening tasks. This winter has been endless for us in Minnesota. I have lots of seeds and bulbs started and that helps to scratch my gardening itch. Happy gardening!

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    1. This winter was brutal all over the country, Joanna, but Minnesota fared much worse than the Poconos. So sorry. I hope the gardening season starts for all of us very soon.

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  8. Hi Pam, your garden is so beautiful, organized and very productive. I wish gardening here seems as easy as there, but it is not. I am so envious looking at a garden that turns out to be what you planned and visualized. Congratulations for always showing a lovely garden.

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