February – Get Up and Get Ready

​The beds are designed and waiting for construction. You can’t wait to get your hands dirty, but the weather is not cooperating with your goals.
Cold, rainy days are the perfect time to decide what you want to put in those beds.
 
As you put your mind to growing, what is it that you see in your garden? What vegetables and herbs do you often use in your cooking?
The usual garden staples are tomato, carrots, radish, lettuce, and zucchini. But there are so many more. It is okay to start small, then work bigger as you gain confidence and experience.
 
How much should you grow? How big is your household? Do you want enough to share? How much space do you have?
Overcrowding is a common mistake. We all need some breathing room, and so do your plants.
Spacing for row gardens and raised beds vary. I use a modified square foot garden. I have discovered a bit more space does well in our humid Texas summers.

​There are many recommendations as to how much to plant per person. We are a household of two, empty nesters we are, but I plan on sharing with the kiddos. So, I am planning on 4 people to begin.
 
Once you know what you want to grow, decide where you want to place each plant.
There are a few essentials to consider. Each plant needs to have enough space. I draw a grid for each garden box, 1 foot square. Then I loosely follow the recommended spacing lined out for square foot gardening.
 
Each plant has specific needs for how much light it needs. Most plants need at least 6 to 8 hours per day. Hopefully, you garden location has already taken this under consideration.
 
Another important consideration are companions. There are those bothersome neighbors, such as fennel, which do not play nice with others. And then there are the good neighbors who help with growth and protection.
 
Arrange the plants on a grid so that when you are ready to plant, you will know exactly where each should go.

This is my approach:

1. Choose your main plant.

              How much space does it need?
              For this example, I chose tomato plants.
              ​Tomatoes need one square foot.
              On average, they grow to be 2-3 ft tall, so I placed the plants in the center of the bed.

1. Choose your companion plants.

              Make sure they are good companions with each other as well.
              Basil and marigold are good plants who like each other and help tomatoes grow.
              ​Basil planted in the same bed can help enrich the flavor of ripe tomatoes.

1. Add variety and beauty.

              Again, make sure everyone gets along.
              There is nothing worse that placing plants together that hate each other.
              Neither will grow well.
              I added Garlic, chives, and onions. They just sound good with tomatoes,
              ​and they help to deter munching pests such as slugs and snails

​Continue working through each bed. Now you are ready to order those seeds!