Garden Planning For The New Year

While January in Kentucky can seem dark and drab-it doesn't have to be. Now I am not saying that you can control the weather, sun, or the temperature. But what I am saying that your January can be full of joy and pleasure by planning that summer and fall garden. Now I didn't include spring because really your spring garden prep should be in the fall and you can check out that info in one of the previous blog posts.

So back to the winter garden pleasure...... January is the most awesome time to take a break, rest for a bit, maybe sip on a cup of hot cocoa (if it's not 60+ degrees like it is on this January day that I'm writing this-come on Ky weather) as you pull out all the seed catalogues and plant resources and books to plan for the new season. Every year I create a seed plan somewhat based on flower recipes(not always) and new plants I want to grow or flowers I love so much that I simply must include them in my plan. Not only do I consider seeds but also perennials that have great blooms or other texture I want to add to my garden or bouquets that we create here at the farm.

So last fall I started planning and planting for our spring. Actually I order our fall planted spring bulbs and corms between March and May. Yes! I order a whole year before they are even blooming. It seems crazy to order that early but that's the best way I can ensure that I get what I want. Even ordering that early though, I still get notifications from the companies I have ordered from that there were crop failures. It is very disappointing to not get a crop I was looking forward to but I have discovered in the world of flowers and perennials that there is always another beautiful interesting and intriguing plant waiting to be snatched up for my growing pleasure!

So late last fall/early winter this is what I planted: 200+peony roots, 2000+tulip bulbs, 300 Frittilaria bulbs, 225 Hyacinth bulbs, 600 Daffodil bulbs, and 2000+ combined in anemone, butterfly ranunculus and ranunculus corms(the corms were planted in the high tunnel and everything else outside). That doesn't include plugs and seedlings we planted in the high tunnel as well. We planted snapdragons, feverfew, iceland poppies, campanula, stock, and maybe a few more I can't remember. It was busy and I was thrilled to get it all done before December 31st.

And believe it or not, I do start many seeds in the month of January. And some of them are for late spring blooms. Just this week I seeded eucalyptus and stock. I will plant the stock out in the high tunnel in February . The eucalyptus will spend weeks under the grow lights and be potted up until it is a good size to go in the field (or it might go in the high tunnel as well). This week we will also start sweet peas and some more stock.

You may wonder why I am telling you all this when I just told you January was a great month to plan. Well January is really when I fine tune all the details of months worth of scattered planning. The way my brain works best is when I think in the moment, write it down, and come back to it or maybe that's just the procrastinator in me. What it really is is a way of not getting overwhelmed by the sheer amount of planning that is actually involved. If I don't plan certain crops, they don't get planted, and my bouquets miss out on really important elements. So all those different days of scattered planning are really ways I double and triple check my planning so far.

So how does this all relate to garden planning. Well. First look through the catalogs make notes of what you like and get all excited! Yes you will have to narrow down what to get but not yet! Then do your own little survey of what area you have available to plant outside. Do you want bushes like evergreens and flowers or just one or the other? Roses and climbing vines? Only flowers for a cutting garden? All these questions are pertinent to what you want and the space you have available as well as considering your budget. Don't know what you want or where to start. Go to the library and check out some gardening books. The local library in your area will have a pleothera of garden books to choose from. Or feel free to message me for ideas or some of my favortie garden plants-I'm always glad to share-feel free to stop at the farmer's market booth when you see me and ask me your questions and we will try to figure out a place for you to start.

But the most important thing is to get started. Gardening is all about learning and making mistakes. Yes I have killed many seedlings, plants, bushes, trees-all of it- in my 35+ years of gardening. The mistakes are how you learn and it can be so much fun and rewarding. You WILL have some really great wins too so encourage yourself to try if it's something that really interest you. Gardening is therapy for so many people and carries physical health benefits as well as mental health benefits. In the spring we also offer a Cutting Garden Workshop to help educate you on soil, watering, fertilize, and certain seeds that are easy to grow cut flowers from.

I really do enjoy my January seed/garden planning sessions. I have garden and flower books out everywhere with pages bookmarked as needed to help me remember where my inspiration comes from. I hope the these dismal days of winter you can find the joy of planning your garden for the new year too! It's going to be EPIC!!! See you next time!