Gardening 101: All successful gardens start with a plan!

This month's blog is tailored to those of you who would consider yourself new to gardening or a beginner. But for those seasoned gardeners out there, below you'll find some great reminders! ​

It is so easy, even for us experienced gardeners, to get excited by all the choices and to buy, buy, buy so many plants and seeds that we could plant 10 gardens. And then we end up tucking our new plants willy-nilly into any place they might (or might not) fit or we give them away. Or, even worse, the poor things sometimes get put in a corner only to be forgotten and then found mid-summer shriveled beyond redemption. Do not fall into that trap, trust me!  Your life will be so much easier and you will have a much more successful beginner garden.

Now, write down a list of vegetables or fruits that you might want to grow -- things that you and your family like to eat. A suggested list of easy to grow produce, as well as how to grow by either direct seeding into the garden bed or transplants, include:

• Swiss chard (direct seed or transplants)
• Tomatoes (transplants)
• Peppers (transplants)
• Egg-plants (transplants)
• Radishes (direct seed)
• Green beans (direct seed)
• Peas (direct seed)
• Beets (direct seed or transplants)
• Lettuce and spinach: both like cool weather (direct seed or transplants)
• Kohlrabi (direct seed or transplants)
• Bush zucchini and patio cucumbers (transplants)

Next, it is time to do some research. Look online for well-known garden supply centers. If you like paper, request a catalogue. If not, peruse their websites looking for your chosen favorites. These sites often will tell you the growing specifications for each plant and you will possibly get sidetracked by all of the choices out there. However, gently pull yourself back to your goal.  There is always next year to spread your wings. This is not to say you can’t change your mind… just be cautious. 

Try to not get overwhelmed by all the information available to you online or in catalogues. Here is a list of just a few things you will want to learn about each of the plants you are considering:

• How tall and wide the plant might get
• What it tastes like
• If it needs support
• How much water it needs
• What kind of soil it likes
• How much sun it likes
• How deeply to plant it
• When to plant it
• Diseases it is prone to

Then, compare these specifications of the plants you thought about growing and weed out (pun intended :) those that won’t fit (unless that is the only type of plant you want to grow in your garden this year). 

• For example, corn is primarily wind-pollinated and needs a bit of space.  From my research (I rarely grow corn – but have in the past) you could get away with planting a 4’ X 4’ block of corn.
• Other challenging plants to grow in small spaces are watermelons, pumpkins, cucumbers, winter squash, cantaloupe, and similar vining plants.  Not only do they take up a lot of space but they are prone (at least in this region) to squash vine borer and squash bugs.  My advice, to plan for success, is that you don’t need this frustration and to save these plants for later when you have more experience. That said, if you still want to grow them, look for space saving varieties that you can also trellis. 

Enjoy this time of gardening leisure and excitement! If you don't already have it on your calendar, plan to attend Toledo GROWs Annual Seed Swap event on February 25th at Scott High School from 12-3pm. More information on this event can be found here.

Please reach out to me if you have questions about any of the information mentioned above. 

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Penny Bollin
Urban Conservation Technician

(419) 377-0065
​[email protected]