When spring fever hits, it is hard to resist the temptation to go out and get your garden planted. However, you really should wait until there is no more danger of frost, or you will have frozen little seedlings that will wilt and die. Take the time while you are motivated to plan your garden instead.
Instructions
1. Make a list of your favorite vegetables. If you cannot come up with a list, look through an online seed catalog. More than likely you can come up with at least a dozen choices.
2. Cross off any that take up too much space to grow. These would be squash, watermelons, sweet potatoes and cucumbers. The only way these can be grown in a small space is vertically. A lot of vines will grow too much to be held on a trellis. Cucumbers can be found in a bush variety.
3. Delete any that are inexpensive year-round in your area, because it is not really worth your while to use the space. Examples of this are potatoes and carrots. Another vegetable that doesn't do well in a small space is corn since it needs several rows of plants for good pollination.
4. Organize your vegetables by how high they grow. For instance, tomatoes can grow over 6 feet, while lettuce will stay under 12 inches. Look at your garden layout and plan to plant your vegetables in rows or plots where the shortest are in the south side of the garden and the tallest are on the north side. Since the sun travels from the east to the west and shines from the southern side of the sky, the taller plants won't shade the shorter ones.
5. Make a plan for a rotation crop. Many vegetables are very quick growers, and something else can be planted in their space after they have been harvested. Lettuce, peas and radishes grow great in the cooler early summer days, while carrots, beans and summer squash take all season.
6. Start the plants that need the longest growing season inside. Tropical vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and okra can be started from seed at least 8 weeks before the outside planting date. Order the seeds for the rest of your vegetables before the season rush hits the nurseries.
7. Look for ways to get the most out of your small garden by finding a source for trellises and plant supports to keep the plants up off the ground. Get creative and make your garden a work of art instead of a hodgepodge of strings and sticks.
8. Make sure your garden site is prepared by adding as much organic compost and composted manure a few weeks before planting. It will attract earthworms who will help aerate the soil. Do a soil test to make sure it is at the right pH for gardening. Soil testing kits can be found at home improvement and garden centers.
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