Planning Your LIBERTY GARDEN™
Answering the following questions will be the first step in planning a successful LIBERTY GARDEN™
Who will do the work?
It is important not to bite off more than you can chew, so take stock of your capabilities. Remember, a small, weed free garden produces more than a large weedy mess. Get family and friends involved with your garden, and get involved with theirs. Working in the garden is an excellent way to stay connected with the people close to you, and a few extra helping hands are always well appreciated. If you plan to manage your garden on your own, that is fine as well, spending time alone in the garden is an excellent way to reconnect with yourself. But be realistic with the amount of work you can handle, start with a small container garden, and move up from there.
What veggies do you and your family like to eat?
Although vegetables in the garden catalogs look delicious, there is no value in growing things no one eats. You can start by making a list of your families favorite vegetables, and be sure not to forget your neighbors. We have never met a neighbor that has turned away a vine ripened heirloom tomato. When in doubt keep it simple: carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, and radishes should be in every garden. Successive planting of certain crops, like carrots and radishes, give a long harvest and increase your yield.
How do you plan to use your garden?
Canning, freezing, drying, or simply storing are factors not only in planning the size of your garden but also in selecting varieties. Some varieties keep much better than others. Make sure your selections are adapted to your intended use.
How much space do you have?
Consider how much can be converted into usable garden space. Not simply how much empty ground you have. Container gardens are an excellent way to turn covered ground into beautiful and bountiful gardens.
Consider the following planning suggestions.
- Plan your garden on paper first. You cannot start too early, as the season progresses your ideas will change, the more planning time the better. Start by listing the varieties of fruits and vegetables you intend to plant and note their planting dates. Draw a map showing the arrangement and spacing of crops.
- Face your garden to the south. A southern exposure will provide the most sun, place tall and trellised plants on the north side of the garden so they do not shade shorter plants.
- Group plants by growing period. Plant spring crops together so you can plant later crops in the areas after early crops mature
- Order seeds at least 2 to 4 months before planting. It is important to have your seeds during the planning process.
For More Gardening Tips, Please Download Our Free Liberty Seed Growing Guide
