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Planning for those spring gardensIt's over as quick as it began. The presents are gone, the stockings are deflated and the winter time snacks have come to a lull. I'm the kind of person that likes to have something to look forward to. I can't wait for Christmas to get here, but it always seems to fly by. And now the very thing that I've been anticipating (like a seven year old child) for so many weeks has passed. But when I arrived at the office the day after Christmas, much to my surprise, there was a new infatuation to dwell on. The very first seed catalog of the year has been delivered to my mailbox. Spring is on the way faster than can be imagined. My brain is turning and churning now. What will my garden shape up to be like this year? In my short gardening career, I have learned several tricks and tips. But there is one very important practice that is now second nature to me. My garden will only be as successful as the amount of planning that I put into it. Sure, it is easy to throw a couple tomatoes and some peppers in the ground and get a small bounty, but I have another issue to deal with. Many gardeners, myself included, are what can be labeled an urban-gardener. We are a group of people that don't have much space to work with and have limited time to work in our very small space. When space and time are limited, both must be used wisely and efficiently. This is why my depth of planning has a direct correlation to the level of success I reap. Each year about this time my plan starts in the same place--in my living room, by the fire, with my favorite blend of grape juice and the Oklahoma Garden Planning Guide. Any vegetable gardener, no matter the level of experience finds this sheet a tremendous help when designing a blueprint for the garden. Included in the guide are complete lists of the warm and cool season crops that can be successfully raised in Oklahoma. Along with these lists, among other things; are the planting and harvest dates, the method of planting, and even the quantity of plants needed to provide per person in the house. This tool is indispensable to a gardener, and most of the dirt diggers I know have multiple copies; in the office, the garage, the potting shed, etc. It can be picked up at any OSU County Extension Service, or tracked down online. Using Google or any other search engine type in the words 'Oklahoma Garden Planning Guide,' it should be one of the first resources brought up. A rough sketch of the space is helpful when laying out the garden design. One important thing to think about is the light requirement for individual crops. Most prefer full sun, but there are a few cool season crops that can have extended seasons if given some afternoon shade. These plants could be strategically placed on the east side of taller plants to shorten their sun exposure. Another tip that I learned the hard way is to factor in access for harvesting. It didn't take me long to realize that getting in between rows of okra is no fun. This year I will only plant one long row in order to avoid the 'itch inducing' leaves. The third and final tool for my early garden planning is a fresh calendar for the upcoming year. Using my garden guide I am able to write down exactly when I will either need to start my seeds or purchase plants and put them in the garden. By breaking the tasks into weeks I create small projects spread out over a long period of time. This eliminates the back breaking 4 to 5 hour work day. It is also easier to fit a few 15 to 20 minute tasks in here or there rather than dedicating an entire weekend. Also remember to schedule in bed preparation or weeding onto the calendar. The calendar method is great, not only because it gives you a simple 'to do' list, but it also creates a record of what varieties and quantities were planted in previous years. Record keeping is part of the planning and helps decide what varieties should be invited back to the garden for another year. While none of these tips are required for having a vegetable garden, it certainly helps to target your efforts when time is limited. Keep your garden planning tools handy as the seed catalogs begin to roll in and take advantage of the cool weather to plan the best garden yet. For more information on starting a vegetable garden contact the OSU Master Gardeners at 405-713-1125. 1/7/08 Date: 12/28/07
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