Now is Crunch Time to Plan your Spring 2024 Garden

As we eagerly await the arrival of the upcoming gardening season, there's a palpable excitement in the air. In this blog post, I am thrilled to share a few essential tips for planning a successful 2024 spring and summer season. This year, 2024, holds a special promise, and I believe it's going to be our best garden season yet. Let's delve into the foundational steps that lay the groundwork for a successful garden.

Step 1: Reflecting on Past Seasons

Before we dive into the new season, it's essential to take a moment to reflect on the past. Reflection is a powerful tool that helps us understand our garden's unique rhythm and provides invaluable lessons. Consider the triumphs and hurdles of previous seasons, from thriving plants to recurring pests. This reflective process isn't just about reminiscing; it's about turning those reflections into actionable insights. What plants brought joy, and which ones faced neglect? For instance, Broad Beans have given me so much joy the past few years and fixed so much nitrogen in my soil that I will plant even more of them this year followed by heat-resistant greens and, in late summer, Bok Choi, Mache and Brassicas.  I have also decided not to plant Cucurbitacae anywhere near spots I grew them last year. 2023 was the year I had to wage battle on several fronts, ranging from the dreaded Squash Vine Borers, Squash bugs and striped and dotted Cucumber Beetles. Yes, all of the above! Fortunately, I have expanded my cultivable surface and I’m taking extra-steps to prevent an infestation. For example, I have planted a lot of Garlic, which is a repellent for these pests, and I will plant many Marigold and Nasturtium in the spring wherever I encountered Squash bugs. Also, I will plant again this wonderfully heat-resistant Chinese Spinach next to my Cucumbers. It has proven to be such an amazing trap crop to distract Cucumber beetles from nibbling on my cukes. And despite the pest onslaught, I have had great success with pest-resistant varieties (Lemon Squash, Musquée de Provence Squash).

This year is also the first year I have used a cover crop where I planted my tomatoes last summer. A blend of Austrian Field Peas, Crimson Clover, Hairy Vetch, Annual and Winter Rye, it will turn into green manure, helping with nitrogen fixation, adding organic matter and crowding out weeds. What more can we ask? And right now, it looks like a luscious green pasture… in early January!

Step 2: Find or Refine your Garden Vision

Your garden is a reflection of your style and preferences, making it essential to define your personal garden goals. While I still prioritize edible plants, I have surrounded them with patches of pollinator-favorites prairie wildflowers, which I direct seeded in the fall, so the roots are well established when the air and the soil warm up again in the spring. I can’t wait to see the result.

I have also pretty much eradicated lawn in my front yard to make way for edible crops and pollinator wildflowers and shrubs, while I methodically build my backyard as a forest garden. This year is also the year when I am seriously tackling growing a strawberry garden. I have ordered 20 Mara des Bois – the tastiest French Strawberry – bareroots, which I will plant in a raised bed filled with a soil specifically ordered from a supplier in North Carolina. And in my backyard, I will plant several patches of Alpine strawberries, which are much more shade tolerant. That’s why they are called “fraises des bois” or woodland strawberries.

Whether you are an experienced gardener or a beginner, what you need is a vision. And it starts by listing your objectives and aspirations and finding the right design ideas, or seeking help for that purpose. If you need assistance finding your vision or making it a reality, that’s where I fit in. You’ll be amazed at the results you can obtain in a little time with just a little guidance.

Step 3: Understand your Space and Map Out Your Garden

Whether you already grow a garden or not, you need a map. No need of complicated app, all you need is grid paper to map out your garden layout. If you are just starting, start by marking the sunny spots, the water sources, areas of your garden that would be convenient for you (e.g. right outside your kitchen) and spots where a potager or a mini orchard would be pleasing to your eyes. If you have an existing garden, focus on where you want to expand, build new beds, plant new trees, add berry bushes, or build a pollinator garden. Planning is the key to beauty and organized and efficient gardening, from planting to harvesting.

Step 4: Select Your Seeds and Bare Roots

With information gathered from previous steps, January is seeds-buying time. Peruse your seeds catalogue and online resources to find the seeds that align your plants selection with your gardening goals, available space, and local growing conditions. And prepare planting plans before you order half the Baker Creek catalogue. If you have never started plants from seeds indoor, now is the perfect time to get to it. Start small, with just a couple trays with a dome on a south-facing window. If you don’t know how and/or need help for any planning purpose, contact me for seeding and planning consultation or attend one of my workshops at Patuxent Nursery on Feb. 3 and 17 at 11:00am. My Plan Your 2024 Kitchen Garden Workshop at P.A. Bowen Farmstead on January 13 is full, but given the success, I’ll definitely organize more. So stay tuned.

January is also the time to order bare roots or seek help to help you order the right ones for you if you plan on growing strawberries, fruit trees and berries. Bare roots are much less onerous than potted trees and canes. But don’t wait too long, as the inventory goes down fast. Typically, bare roots are ordered in Dec/January for delivery in March/April.

Step 5: Timeline and Scheduling

Integrate gardening into your personal schedule, whether it's weekends or dedicated time during weekdays. Consistency is key, and maintaining a routine helps in organizing tasks and ensuring each plant receives the attention it needs. Use a calendar to create time blocks for specific gardening activities, fostering a thriving and flexible gardening experience.

Conclusion:

By following these comprehensive steps, you'll set the stage for a successful and rewarding gardening season. Reflect on the past, find your vision, understand your space and map it out, choose your plants wisely, and establish a consistent timeline. Embrace the beauty of gardening's flexibility, and watch as your garden flourishes into a haven for beauty and sanity. Here's to a bountiful and fulfilling 2024 garden season!