Gardening 101: Where to Begin

May 21, 2014April 19, 2017

Can you believe spring is finally here? I know for some, it has been here for awhile, but for others (like in the north), it has been a long time coming. ‘Bout time, right? When it comes to gardening, we often spend so much time spring cleaning INSIDE, that we often forget about the spring cleaning that needs to happen OUTSIDE. Preparing for a garden takes time. Not preparing far enough in advance, can mean a less fruitful harvest. Having the best groundwork for planting a garden, can ensure a productive garden. I want to share with you a few tips on how to make sure garden produces a bountiful harvest!

1. Know when to start the seeds indoors. Information on knowing when and where to start, is found on the seed packet, and also on the internet. Each zone is different, so make sure you are familiar about what zone you live in.

2. If you started your seeds in flats or pots, figure out the transplant date, which is typically after the last spring frost.

3. How many seeds? This is often a common question, but the answer can be found on your seed packet! Thinning out may be recommended, but not always needed.

4. Till the garden. Make sure you have turned over the dirt the best you can, in order to uproot anything that may have already started growing in your garden (often these “plants” are unwelcomed!)

5. Know your garden. Know where the sunniest and shadiest spots are. Some plants require more sun than others (like tomatoes). Other plants like lettuce and peas, can use a little break from the sun. Know where the sun hits the hardest in your garden.

Here are some ideas on what and how to plant a 4×4 garden, 10×10 garden with corn, and even a 20×40 garden.

Stay tuned because tomorrow there are going to be more tips on how to make the most of your garden this year!

What are you planting this year?

Forgetting To Declutter: Pot Holders

Can you believe I am going to talk about decluttering POT HOLDERS? Yes, I am because let’s be honest: when was the last time you thought about decluttering them? Do you have a drawer so full of pot holders that you can’t even close it? Does your drawer jam because too many are shoved in…

Day 7: Keys

What: Keys Why: Whoever invented the key, should’ve invented a “nametag” to go on the key so that we know what the key is actually for. Don’t you agree? Yes, I know they sell those color-coded key covers, but they still don’t help if you don’t even know what the key is for. When we…

Spring On New Beginnings With Personal Planner

Living in the Midwest, one of the things I really appreciate is going from winter to spring. It means a change from snow to blooming flowers. From frigid temps to windows open. A feeling of new beginnings. Not only are there new beginnings with each season, it also offers the time to reflect on our…

Vinegar 101

If you are at all into homemaking or home remedies, vinegar is probably at the top of your list. It seems as if there are new ideas on how to use vinegar every day. It almost gets overwhelming and therefore hard to remember all of its wonderful uses. In fact, you may have bought…

Day 54: Sticky Notes and Scrap Paper

What: Sticky notes and scrap paper Why: Do you ever need to quick jot something down but can’t find a blank piece of paper? So you quickly jot down the number on the corner of a piece of paper, but then later find out you either threw that paper away or that the paper was…

Day 96: 6 Tips On How To Declutter Your Keepsake Box

What: Keepsake Box Why: What is a keepsake box? Why do we call it a keepsake box? Keepsakes are things we keep for the sake of something – for the sake of remembering, for the future generations, or for personal use. Keepsake boxes store the items we treasure. Unfortunately, keepsake boxes tend to become more than a…

2 Comments

Mary Alice Kenley says:

May 22, 2014 at 9:13 pm

We don't do a vegetable garden, but choose to purchase vegetables from local farmers for canning and freezing. We do have lots of annuals, perennials and flowering shrubs, though; and one thing we are dealing with is ground squirrels (chipmunks)! Do you or any of your readers have an issue with these little boogers? I would love to know how you handle this.

Reply
1. Kristin says:
  
  May 23, 2014 at 7:42 pm
  
  I LOVE that alternative to a garden! I think buying local is so important because that is what keeps local farmers going, local employees employed, and keeps the dollars in the town. That is a really good question about ground squirrels! Thankfully we do not have too much of an issue with them, but I can see where they would start to be a nuisance!
  
  Reply