“Anyone who thinks gardening begins in the spring and ends in the fall is missing the best part of the whole year; for gardening begins in January with the dream. ” – Josephine Nuese
…Spring Garden Goals
growing food
Direct sowing and starting seeds outdoors
If you live in the south or anywhere tropical, likely you do not need to start your seeds indoors during the winter. You can, if you have a very tight vegetable rotation but the growing season in these regions is often plenty long enough for even the most finicky, long season squash. There are some other considerations, benefits and drawbacks to starting your seeds outdoors or direct sowing them.
…Step by Step: How to build a simple raised bed
One of the simplest ways to increase your gardening space is to add small or large raised beds where appropriate on your property. Ideally, you want a spot with at least 6 hours of sun if you intend on growing food there. You also want at least a couple of beds in order to practice good crop rotation.
I have an unusual set up in my backyard in that a large portion is covered by large pecan trees and the other areas are covered by cement. Given this, there are still a few spots I can tuck in another bed or two. These directions are for two 2ft by 4 ft (by 8 inch) raised beds.
…Selecting Plants for Zone 8
One of the biggest learning curves in growing your own food is considering what plants grow well in your area. Zone 8 has the added complication of being considered a transitional zone in which there is wide variation. Here are some tips and tricks for selecting plants and seeds in zone 8.
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