photo credit: Hair Squared

For 2010 recession gardening and perennial gardening will become a more important part of my garden plans.

Community gardening has always been an interest to me and recently Recession Gardens their benefits for our health, environment and economy have become a focus of my garden plans for the future.

This year I plan to document my recession garden plans and start early. As a matter of fact I have a winter recession garden ready to start. It’s amazing what you can plant in the winter in the house or a small hoop house or greenhouse. I plan to push the limits of what can be grown and see if I can get more than salad greens, mini tomatoes, herbs and strawberries to produce.

Last years Recession Garden.

Last year I planned a 20-dollar Recession Garden. My goal was to start a garden using only $20 for any seeds or garden tools. I grew 20 plus vegetables, most from seed but some vegetable do better from transplants so I bought a few plants. I easily managed to stay within $20.00, using a few frugal gardening techniques.

Overall the garden was successful. I saved over $2000.00 in grocery bills and still have some of the garden harvest frozen or canned. And I know what chemicals were used on my produce – none!

My biggest changes in gardening last year were the use of small space gardening techniques, more use of container gardening and growing more crops under cover. Our summer was so wet and cold at night I moved most of the garden under cover and plan to garden this way from now on.

photo credit: Gardener_24

Why garden under cover?

• Less insects
• it solved the small animal destruction I have had for years
• more control over climate and moisture issues
• tomato blight can be controlled easier
• it leads to time and back saving ideas.
• extended gardening season
• your garden location is usually closer to you home, or attached.

But gardening under cover meant I had to learn to water differently, control the climate if I had hot days and make and recycle soil and planters. It was a learning experience and I must admit I lost a few plants.

So this next week is “order any seeds I want” and start my winter recession garden.

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This is also the area where I plan the garden activities and garden and backyard design.

Your garden potting table can be on the patio, garage, storage shed or in a utility section of your garden area. The table or bench size and accessories will be based on the requirements of the garden.  By using a potting area you can better utilize you small space garden areas.

Some potting tables have two or three shelves to store small garden tools in the lower shelf and garden supplies in slightly higher shelves.  If you have small children it’s best if the shelves have doors and locks. Pets are also a concern and any chemicals need to be put away from inquisitive noses.

The Potting area will also help the gardener to keep garden supplies away from rain, mud or insects.

Many lower shelves on the potting bench or table will also serve as incubating place to grow small seedlings. Temperatures and lighting can be controlled here to help produce healthy plants.  You will even be able to extend you gardening season with seedlings if you can enclose the lower shelving area with glass or plastic and create a mini greenhouse effect.

My potting bench is made from rustic wood with an aluminum table top and hidden sink area. I have two shelving areas below the bench and the back of the bench has two shelves and a pole up above where I can hang hanging baskets. This arrangement makes to most out of my available space.

I also have wheels on the bench so that it can be moved for cleaning or indoors in the winter to use for my winter plants.

There are many potting tables and bench from a rustic look to beautifully hand crafted cedar or teak potting tables. Your home design, use and budget will determine what style you choose.

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photo credit: dlisbona

When the garden season begins you never know what Mother Nature has planned so my motto is “be prepared!”

Setting your garden up for drought conditions can be done by using mulch or planting in containers so that they can be moved into shade or closer to water. You can also landscape your yard and gardens for drought by using perennials, using plants and trees that require less water, or by planting re-seeding annuals, herbs and native plants.

I also water in the morning, use deep watering methods and rain barrels for catching rain. You will find a few more ideas at my sister site Backyard Oasis,  How to choose drought resistant plants.

One idea I have used for many years is watering by milk jug (or a small plastic pop bottle for containers)

Fill the cleaned empty milk or plastic pop bottle with hot water. This will clean the bottle and also help remove the label.
I let my bottles and jugs sit overnight to make sure they are clean.

Use a sharp nail to make a hole or two in the milk jug. You can also use a cordless drill with a tiny bit to make the holes. Just remember the larger the holes are on the bottom the faster your water will run out.

Hint: if you use jugs with holes and without, mark the jug. It’s not fun to fill a jug and have the water run out and into your shoes while placing it in the yard.

Place the jug by the plant that needs water. Using this method you get a slow watering what will soak in the ground near the plant where it’s needed,

Pop bottles

I tent to use small pop bottles in containers. Cut off the bottom of the pop bottle. Remove the cap and place the bottle in the center of a container. I submerge the bottle halfway into the soil. This will act as a funnel and take water directly to the roots. This works well for vegetable plants that require a lot of water. And as the plant grows the bottle is hidden from site.

Tips:

If you have a fish tank or pond you can use that water to water your plants and then top off what water is removed. You will help clean the tank or pond and have nutrient rich water for your plants.

When not using the milk jugs you can run a string through the handles and store them by hanging them on a wall out of the way

Here are two sites for ideas on hardy plants. I enjoy Hibiscus plants and Best Flower gardening has an excellent article, Hibiscus-a-must-have-perennial.

Home and Garden Online has a nice write-up on native plants, Native Plants: flower-garden-guide. Native plants add so much to your garden landscape.

Whether you have too much rain or too little with planning and preparation you can still have a beautiful yard and successful garden. It just may be a bit more challenging!

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A vegetable garden doesn’t have to be huge and hold tons of plants. Not everyone has the space for a garden like that, but they can grow thriving plants in a small area as long as there’s access to sunlight.
photo credit: thunderf10wer

People develop gardens in various small areas – it could be a tiny bit of land outside a house, or pots in planters kept indoors or outdoors. How well you treat your plants and how skillful you are at gardening are issues that are far more important than the amount of space you have.

Even a little garden can compete with a large one, if the gardener’s expertise is applied well to growing the plants.

Take the time to plan out your vegetable garden design to maximize the amount of space that you have. You’ll want to research the plants you intend to grow within your garden. Find out what plants can be planted near each other, which ones need the most sunlight and any care instructions needed to grow a particular type of plant.

Once you have a plan, it will help you place the plants in your garden, whether you are using planters or a small area of your backyard. You’ll also need to research when you should plant each plant as well. There are some plants that need planted earlier than others.

You’ll need to buy the seeds or plants that you are going to plant as well. Be sure that you have planters that are big enough if you are going to go with a pot garden. Some plants will need a bit more space for growing, so be sure that they are not too crowded.

The soil you use in your pots should be of the best quality. This should give your plants the nutrition they need to grow large and healthy. You can ask for advice on soil from the experts at your garden center.
photo credit: *Susie*

Small gardens are not immune to ravages by insects. You can deal with this problem, though.

The first thing you can do is entice creatures that prey on insects into your garden. Frogs, birds, ladybugs and lizards will come to your garden if there is a pond or other body of water, as well plants that they will find attractive.

You can also use other methods instead of chemical repellents. Try insecticidal soap, spicy peppers or garlic to keep insects away.

There are certain kinds of soil available that come with pest-repelling ingredients,  try these out. Pesticides are one option, but go easy on these and only use what is strictly necessary; after all, they are injurious chemicals, with detrimental effects on the health not only of the plants, but of animals and children too.

No matter how large or small your garden may be, you need to make sure you nurture it. Get rid of any weeks and make sure that soil is aerated from time to time and watered regularly. Without the right care from you, your garden will never thrive.

Even the small gardens can thrive and do well. So, if you just don’t have enough room for a large garden, you can use the area you have to have a great garden, even in a small area.

If you take care of the garden, you can get the healthy and beautiful plants you want.

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photo credit: zenera

Another part of my garden planning is that the gardens are never just a flower, vegetable or herb garden; they are always a mix of all. All the plants compliment each other and often have insect control benefits when planted side by side.

Geraniums and marigolds help control insects and some small animals so I often use them in garden borders. Okra controls Japanese Beetles so they are grown in pots and moved around the yard. I myself don’t like Okra as a vegetable but it makes a great insect control, has a beautiful flower and works well as a dried crafting material.

The herb, Borage controls insects and tomatoes also like the plant.

In small backyard design spaces and on patios I will plants cucumbers, small melons or climbing beans against the walls or a trellis. Plants lettuce below the vines to save on space, keep the soil cool and add a lush full look to your plantings.

Use lettuce leaf lettuce and Swiss chard as a flowerbed edging. And with all the colors or leaf lettuce now you will be able to add a variety of color to the garden for all seasons. Head lettuce and flowering cabbage looks good behind the lettuce.

I use cabbage and kale as a show of vegetable mixed in flowers and herbs.

Root crops are easier to harvest in containers. I will find nice accent pots or unique planters and add the root crops as garden décor to the gardens and plant a new root crop every two to three weeks to keep a fresh supply of small root vegetables growing the entire season.

Corn and Indian corn make an interesting look mixed in with taller flowers. If you plants corn, a medium height flower and low vegetables of sprawling flowers you can make a great mini garden for the end of the driveway or an accent mini garden. I also do the same with gourds and mix them in with flowering vines and a lower height flower or herbs.

Strawberries, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and peppers also make great accent plants with their bright fruit. There are many ornamental peppers that have variegated leaves that also add more beauty and color to a garden area.

When it comes to garden planning there are only a few planning basics like spacing, light and water that need to be followed and all the other garden rules are fun to bend and break.

If garden planning seems to be a task you don’t like try out GrowVeg.com to see how easy planning a garden can be.

Gardening can be work but it also can be fun and that’s the part of gardening I always make sure is well planned, fun!

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photo credit: jcestnik

At that time I learned I needed to sit down a draw out a garden plan. Why? It makes better use of your garden space and helps with succession planting. There are also plants that just grow better with other plants or that attract the same insect so it’s not best to group these in one spot of the garden.

I actually like to plan my garden in the cold winter months. It reminds me of spring and the new garden season coming up. It’s when I set with the seed catalogs and dream of the perfect garden. My one garden was an acre on year and I actually needed the plant to help others find my crops easier.

I don’t make a habit of referring a product so when I do it has to offer a unique product or enough information that I find it to be a “must have product.”

I recently discovered GrowVeg.com What I like about this program is you can lay out a garden plan very easily. This will be most beneficial to anyone planting a garden for the first time or has limited growing space.

Their blog site also has wonderful information. I was lost in their articles for quite some time. Whether you are a new gardener or have gardened for years, there is always something new to learn. Take a look the GrowVeg.com site and garden planner.  There are also many helpful articles that will benefit your garden. I think you will be impressed.

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You can keep a record of your garden planting layouts to practice crop rotation, evaluate how you use your space and write down your successes and areas where you would like to see improvement. If you found a short cut or valuable growing tip make sure you write it down.

I use a garden planner called veg-grow to help me with my garden design. By keeping a record of each garden plan, its easier the rotate my crops and control insects and diseases.

By keeping track of your rain and temperatures you can begin to gauge when crops can be started and best times to harvest. My Uncle has recorded 20 years of rain, temperatures, and frost dates in his area. This is an invaluable tool he uses each season. Neighbors come over to take a peek at the journal and ask garden and growing questions.

Including photographs of your garden and yard marks history for you and your family. How your garden changes and new shrubs and trees in your yard can be recorded.

I usually keep the care instructions that come with perennials, shrubs and trees and add to the garden journal. That way if I have a problem I know where to look for the solution.

One year I let my nephew David have the lower corner of my garden to plant in. He played with trucks and bulldozer more than gardening but he had a small crop of tomatoes, lettuce and beans. He also struck water with his one excavation! (Yes, this was a low laying corner where I had a water problem.)

Together we layed in a water canal and it just ended up draining my soil and creating a wonderful play area for him. He still to this day enjoys gardening and I have wonderful photos of a 4-year-old child covered with mud.

The key to a successful garden journal is to keep it simple. Make it an enjoyable event not a task.

You can purchase a garden journal, use a scrapbook or make you own.

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photo credit: Tie Guy II

Whichever stage you are in , one thing is a given. There is a certain amount of clean up that needs to be done and will benefit the health of your garden area.

By leaving behind stems and old plants you make a safe haven for insects to overwinter or leave behind eggs that will hatch later. Also, if a plant was diseased but didn’t show signs of being unhealthy the disease can affect the soil and bring in more destructive insects.
photo credit: daryl_mitchell

For a healthy organic garden it’s best to clean up the debris. It’s also enjoyable to clean up the garden area, get it organized for next year and dream of the perfect garden! So what should you do?

• Some people will break the ground and add new nutrients to the soil.
• Make sure any weeds are removed. This is a good idea if you plan to start early spring crops. Your garden will be ready to plant with little work.
• You can chop up the healthy crops and add them to the compost pile that will benefit your garden next year.
• If you don’t have a compost pile now is the perfect time to start one.
• By chopping up leaves and any grass clippings you can cover up your garden area to protect it from the winter cold. This covering can be worked into the ground in the spring and will enrich the soil.
• Clean and put away any stakes and and make notes of any new stakes or garden tools or products you may need.
• It’s very important to clean your garden tools. Wash them, remove any dirt and repair any handles. Put your tools away and organize them if needed.
• If you use raised beds make sure they are in good shape and and add any soil or composting matter that will help improve the soil.
• If you use cold frames to extend the season it’s the perfect time to move them into place and plant your cool weather crops.
• Place burlap around around your delicate or new shrubs and trees. This will help protect them from the cold winter winds.
• It’s time to sit down and evaluate the garden. Decide what worked and what you need to change. Possibly you many want to make out a garden design and start creating next year’s garden.
• When the weather gets cold its the perfect time to get out seed catalogs and choose next years crops. For fun try a new flower, vegetable, herb or vine.
  photo credit: andydr
  

Garden planning or “Garden Dreaming” as I call it is one of the most fun parts of gardening.  I like the program veggrow.com to help me plan my garden. I find by using it my gardens grow better and produce more.

Remember anything is possible with a garden. It’s fun and relaxing and the herbs, flowers and vegetables are better when grown in your backyard!

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