Bob Ewing - It is snowing outside as I type this, for some, it may seem a bit too early to begin thinking about gardening; however, even though planting out season is four months away, it is time to make a plan. The garden plan does not have to be fancy. You do not need to be an artist to create one. All you need to know is the size of your plot and what you want to grow.My favourite gardens are a mix of vegetables, berries, herbs and flowers. If you include plants that are native to your area in the flower choices, you increase the odds of inviting the garden helpers who are needed to make you garden bloom. Herbs add fragrance to the air and flavour to the cook pot. Flowers add fragrance, beauty and call in the bees and other pollinators that all the plants in your garden need. When it comes to vegetables grow what you like to eat. Once you have tasted a tomato picked fresh off the vine, you will know what truly fresh food tastes like.
If you do not have a yard use your deck or balcony. All the plants I am referring to can be grown in containers, which can then be placed handily in your home so that maintenance is easy. Just take a few steps to water when necessary or harvest or examine the plants for unwanted creatures or diseases. Early detection is vital to keep your garden healthy.
If tomatoes a favourite but space minimal then choose cherry tomatoes. They can be grown in a three gallon container or any container that is at least 24 inches across and 18 inches deep. In fact most tomatoes can be grown in a pot this size. Add basil to the pot, tomatoes and basil make excellent companions both in the garden and in the kitchen. Nurture them and you will be able to enjoy tomatoes fresh from your own garden. As well as tomatoes, it is possible to grow cucumbers, green peppers and zucchini in the same size (24x18) containers. A trellis is likely to be needed for both zucchini and cucumbers.
Organic soil is always the best and even if you have a container garden, you can add compost from a compost bin to the soil, just less than you would a garden bed. If you need to buy soil then buy organic. This way the plant roots will get fed properly right from day one.
If you are new to gardening and just setting out your first one, then start small. What are your three favourite vegetables, three herbs and three flowers. This gives you a total of nine containers or a small garden bed.
A garden journal is essential. This is where you put the garden plan, plant lists and any observations( what did well, what did not, for example) that you made over the season. Gardening is an interactive experience and the gardener need to take regular strolls through the garden to see how all is doing.
As your skills, time and interest grow so can your garden.
Happy growing!
