Planning the Layout for the 2013 Garden

Today, I was able to sit down and plan how I would rotate the beds in my garden. My garden is set up in "Neighborhoods" so to speak and within each neighborhood there are plants that benefit one another. Think back to stories of the Native Americans planting the "Three Sisters", corn, beans, and squash, and you have the right idea. This is also known as companion gardening. For the most comprehensive book I have found on this type of gardening, check out "Great Garden Companions; A Companion-Planting System for a Beautiful, Chemical-Free Vegetable Garden" by Sally Jean Cunningham.

In order to keep track of my rotations and plantings each year, I keep a garden notebook with all of my notes and observations. At this point in my planning, I have the following planned; 3 Tomato Neighborhoods, 3 Bean/ Squash Neighborhoods, 2 Roots/Greens Neighborhoods, 2 Blueberry Neighborhoods, 1 Strawberry Neighborhood, 2 Cabbage Neighborhoods, 1 Asparagus Bed, 1 long fence line of red raspberries, a 3ft row of Blackberries, and 1 Herb bed. The far right corner of the garden is anchored with a corner perennial bed to help attract beneficial insects. Flowers and herbs are interplanted throughout the garden for that same purpose. Not only does this approach cut down on harmful insects, it makes for an attractive garden.

Spring Companions

Cauliflower, Marigolds, and Radishes

Lovage, Mustard, Gourmet Mix, Cabbage

Onions, Radishes, Marigolds, Cole Crops

Red Leaf Lettuce, Cabbage, and Butter Crunch

Garlic Chives, Cauliflower, Celery, Lettuce

The advantages of companion gardening comes to light every spring. As the cole crops and lettuces begin to climb up to their harvesting size, the marigolds, radishes, and onions are in full protection mode! No, they don't actually defend the tender leaves of your veggies. It's actually believed that they confuse insects with their wonderful fragrances which keeps their leaves hole-free! This is where careful planning begins to pay off. And then there's the artist in me that just appreciates a pretty vegetable garden!

Go with the flow! (but use frost cloth!)

 So, I don't know what the weather has been like for you in your part of the world. But I know that here in Owings Mills, just outside of Baltimore, Maryland, it has been unseasonably warm for weeks. I can't get over how it seems to be late spring already. We have had several 80 degree days, and many days are in the mid to upper 70's with lows at night only in the 50's. This is crazy and it's really messing with my time table for starting seeds. 

This weekend I decided to just go with the flow because at this point my seeds will never be plant ready for the garden before it's bolting weather. So, I will save my seed planting of cole crops for the fall harvest. With that said, I went to my favorite garden center in Westminster, Maryland. (Bowman's) I went ahead and bought my cole crops and a few lettuce plants to get things started.

Today, I had an opportunity after work to plant the first Cabbage Neighborhood which at this point is a combination of cabbage, lettuce, and greens. I will be interplanting the other companions after I see which way the weather is going to go. I'll probably get some of the root veggies interplanted this weekend.

So, it was 78 degrees today and I was able to get the first bed of the garden ready. But with a couple of years experience, I also know to expect the unexpected. I used my fiberglass rods to create my hoops and then covered the bed with frost cloth that is anchored with lawn staples.

I'm going with the great weather and getting things rolling- but I'm prepared for what we sometimes call the 'broccoli snow'.  You never know . . . 

A New Year= A New Garden!

 This is the view I am looking forward to in the months ahead. Early spring, many shades of green, a lot of freshly cultivated dirt, an assortment of seeds planted in the garden, a few seedlings reaching for the sky, and visions of fresh produce by the basketful! 

Right now, it's unseasonably warm and I'm thinking I should of planted something to take advantage of this crazy weather. But I know that had I planted something, the weather would not be favorable and I'd wish I hadn't planted. 

So, it's almost time to start my seeds inside and I can hardly wait. It's been a crazy year for me (with my day job) and I am looking forward to a new year in the garden. It's funny how each year you start everything all over again, and I don't mind at all. I like rotating which beds I plant my different neighborhoods of crops and I like experimenting with new seeds and plants as well as trying different companions within the beds.

It's January 9, 2012, and I am starting to plan my best garden yet!