Last week I held a garden class in my backyard. Not to make money – simply to share my knowledge. My joy. One of my personal goals for 2018 is to more openly share what I know and love with others.

In sharing who I am and what I know with no attachment – I will inherently be supportive others on their path and journey. I know this is also the best way to attract what I want into my life. But above all I will be actively using my voice to help others.   What a win.

Gardening, like much of life, is learned through trial and error and hard work. Gardening is such a wonderful metaphor for life. Perhaps I will write a book on this one day. But I will save that for now….

Here are my notes for anyone out there who cares to use them as well.  Please note – Diagrams and suggestions are for Gardening Zone 7b/8a

Best,

Sarah

 

Planning Your Bed – Tips to Get Started

• Ensure enough space for you and your plants
• Pay attention to companion planting rules
• Grow what you will Eat!
• In Small Spaces go for Bang for Buck
• Avoid difficult to grow items
• Grow what is in season
• Plan for Critter Control from Day 1

My Go-To Folks and Places for Questions:

• Davidson Farmers Market Farmers
• Master Gardeners of Mecklenburg County
  • http://www.ncstategardening.org/extension_master_gardener/index.php
  • https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook
• Kathleen: Davidson Green School
  • Kathleen McIntyre is a great friend of mine
  • She attends the Davidson Market with the Davidson Green School every other week and welcomes your plant based and nature questions!
• Farmer’s Almanac
• A Photo Journal
  • I maintain a digital record of my pictures in Google
  • Key words make searching and observing your progress so fun and easy
• A Journal
  • Use a journal to jot down things like….
    • Weather
    • Where you get your soil
    • What you plan each month
    • What was successful for you and what was a bust

Where to Buy Seeds, Plants and Soil

      Seeds

• For years I have been buying my seeds from
  • Baker Creek Heirloom: https://www.rareseeds.com/
• If you prefer a local option, I would suggest:
  • Brawley Garden Centre: https://www.facebook.com/brawleygardencenter/

      Plants

• For me, it is important to purchase plants which are chemical free and non gmo my go-to plant sources are:
  • Farmers Market beginning in April
  • Brawley Garden Centre: https://www.facebook.com/brawleygardencenter/
  • Carolina Cones ( Across from Ace hardware on main street)
  • Ace Hardware

      Soil

• How much soil you will need depends on the size of your bed
• Once you have determined the size of your bed use a calculator to determine how much soil you will need
• Here is an online option: Cubic Yard Calculator
  • https://www.soildirect.com/calculator/cubic-yard-calculator/
• Where to get it
  • Wallace Farm
    • 40 LB Bag Premium Top Soil $1.80
    • 50 LB Composted Cow Manure $2.30
    • 1 C. Ft of Gardener’s Delight Planting Mix $2.40
• Note: you do not need to Fill you bed to the top! Leave yourself a few inches!

When to Plant

We are in Zone 7b with proper crop rotation 3 full crops a year are possible! 4 if you are adventurous

• Spring – April – Jun
• Summer July – Sept
• Fall August/Sept – November
• Winter – Nov-Feb/March

What to Grow

It can be overwhelming determining what to grow! Above all:

1. Only plant food you actually want to eat.
2. From there select things which are easier to grow
3. And avoid overcrowding – below are some tips!

      What Has been a bust for me

• Brussel Spouts
• Cabbage
• Unless you line your bed Root Vegetables will be difficult
  • Voles are hard to contain here!
• Corn – not enough bang for the buck ( space it takes )
• Squash* – grows well however prepare for squash bugs

      Grow great from seed:

• Radishes
• Beans
• Peas
• Squash
• Flowers of any type

      Easy to grow in NC

• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Okra
• Peppers
• Onions
• Herbs
• Squash

      Start indoors or buy from plant:

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Cucumbers
• Herbs
• Eggplant

Companion Planting

• Some Plants don’t play well with others
• Plants, like people, grow best when they are supported by what they need
• When you pat attention to basic companion planting you:
  • Avoid planting plants next to each other that are incompatible
  • And you pay attention to what each plant prefers to be planted by
• Below are some helpful companion planting charts
• If you do nothing else:
  • Plant marigolds around your garden
  • Basil w/ your tomatoes
  • And Mint with your cabbage if you do plant cabbage

Planning your plot: Square Foot Gardening:

• The Easiest way to plan your plot is based on how many square feet you have
• From that point, you will be able to work backwards
• Draw out (on paper ) how many of each plants you can comfortably fit in
• This avoids overcrowding and makes sure you can get in to weed and pick
• Making sure you leave space also REALLY helps with Bugs!

Keeping Out Critters and pests Organically

There are a lot of different organic ways to keep out critters ( rabbits, squirrels, deer, birds, etc ) and bugs. Here are my favorite:

For Unwanted Animals and Critters:

• A Fence
• Keep your animal in your yard nearby – Dog / Cat
• Repels All – this is made of animal urine – gross but it works awesome
• Human Hair or pet hair – there about it ( just like the urine ) that works to keep them away. Go ahead and clean your brush around your garden!
• Certain Plants / Herbs – marigolds, Mint and cayenne are a few

For Pests ( bugs ) I like:

• Garden Safe Neem Oil Extract
  • Fungicide, Insecticide and Miticide in one
• Diatomaceous Earth
• And also making my own home made sprays

Fertilizer

• Compost
• Jobe’s Fast Start
• Jobe’s All Purpose
• Jobe’s Vegetable and Tomato