Getting Started: Plot plans, plant picks, and peat pots!

In the past couple of days, I've had several people ask me about my process in this whole gardening thing. I never really know how much information people are looking for because  1. I'm moderately socially inept and 2. I could ramble on for hours about plants and their great beginnings, so I figured, what better place to blab about procedures than this blog!

The first step in starting your very first vegetable garden is consult the internet. Research what grows well and when in your area. Look at what region you're in according to the hardiness map. Walk outside a few times throughout the day and observe the places that get more sun than others. Plan your plot space! Are you on a balcony? Will you be planting in containers? Raised bed or in ground? Dig into your soil a bit. Is it fluffy and loamy? Is it full of clay? Spring/summer space or autumn/winter? How much space can you dedicate to this? All of these are things to consider when planning your space. Do you want to feed the family for a season or for the year? Is it just you? Are you planning on doing any canning or freezing? Will you be doing square foot gardening or gardening in rows? If you're a first timer and looking for some extra guidance, Smartgardener.com is SUPERB. Check it out! In the interest of keeping this relatively under control and concise, I'll stop there, but plan well! Decide what you want out of your space.

Here is a link to the US hardiness map. This is a helpful tool when garden planning: http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/Default.aspx

My favorite bit comes next: Pick your plants! I chose a little bit of everything this year, but again do your research! Do you want green beans? Beans that grow in bushes or beans that grow up a trellis?! Do you juice stuff like crazy (this girl) and need TONS of greens or just a few for salads and things?  Do you have a little babe that needs lots of mushy peas and carrots? So many questions!! I live in the Willamette Valley so I choose all of my greens first as they will be the first things in the ground when it kind of sort of stops raining for a minute in early March. This year, I'm expanding my garden a bit so I can have a whole corner dedicated to greens. Through the summers, I like to have a pretty steady supply of green juice. Anyway, look at the amount of space you have and plan accordingly. Again, Smartgardener.com is an incredible resource when it comes to these things.

Next, decide where you'll be purchasing your seeds. My favorite supply website by far is Groworganic.com. Not only are they a great resource for gardening tips and tricks, but each of their seed packets has very specific planting instructions including whether to start indoors or out, seed depth, and ideal soil temperatures. Here is a little sampling of what I'll be growing this season :)

The final getting started step is to actually get started!! I use peat pots and whatever potting soil I have laying around to get my seedlings going. If this is soil you've used before in pots, make sure you add some fresh compost or organic fertilizer to make sure your babes will have plenty of nutrients. This year, I'm employing the help of a grow light, but that is by no means a necessary thing as long as you have a sunny window. Before you plant your seeds in your peat pots, make sure your soil is nice and moist. If it been sitting outside in the cold for a while, wet it with warm water before putting it into the peat pots. Its also never a bad idea to soak the peat pots in warm water for a minute or two. The key to good germination with most plants is light, moisture, and heat. Keep that in mind, moisture, heat, and light. If you find that some of your little plant babies are looking a little "leggy" or "stringy" they might not be getting enough light. If you see they they're looking a little down in the dumps, they're probably not getting enough water. If, in a few weeks, you still have no little seedlings, make sure they're not somewhere freezing cold! Here are my babies as of last night:

Everything seems to be coming along swimmingly! I'll keep everyone updated as the season continues. This is one of the most exciting times for me. So much promise in new beginnings :) Enjoy!!