The Garden News

Issue No. 12.09

March 1, 2012

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Planning Your Garden

"Plan you work and work your plan." Keeping this bit of wisdom in mind can save you time, stress, and money when it comes time to plant your garden. Some go overboard hen it comes to planning and sketch out everything down to the square inch. Others do no planning and let their gardens take shape more ... organically. How you go about planning depends somewhat on the type of garden you are planting. Many in our area opt for the classic victory garden that covers a large area and has straight rows. Gaining popularity in our region, and the only option for many with limited space, raised beds require a different approach.

Victory Gardens

Victory gardens get their name from gardens planted during World War I & II to aid in the war effort. They are what many of us think of when it comes to vegetable garden design. Victory gardens are characterized by fairly large plots of tilled soil, laser-straight rows, and baskets full of produce for home canning. Here are a few simple tips to help you plan your own victory garden:

Sketch your rows on a sheet of paper to both act as a guide and also know where items are planted if the row markers get misplaced.
Orient your rows north to south so that they get maximum sunlight. Also plant taller items to the north to prevent shading shorter plants.
When planting keep the eventual size of the plants in mind to prevent crowding and allow easy access between the rows. (I like to leave enough space to get my Troy-Bilt tiller through.)
Plan with crop times in mind so you can easily plant late crops mid-summer.

Raised Bed Gardens

When it comes to gardening in smaller areas raised beds are the way to go. A raised bed makes gardening easy. Filled with soil mix, they provide the excellent drainage needed to grow picture-perfect vegetables and flowers. Here are some great raised bed tips:

Draw diagrams of your raised beds to plan where to plant items and help keep track of them later.
Add compost each year to help maintain healthy soil.
Rows are not needed. Plant seeds in groupings loosely based on the seed package directions.
Consider a drip irrigation system for hot summer days. Raised bed's excellent drainage can also cause them to dry out rather quickly.
Mulch your beds to slow evaporation and deter weeds.

This isn't a comprehensive guide to garden planning, but it is a good place to start. When it comes to learning how to be a successful vegetable gardener, the best way to learn is by doing ... and sometimes learning from mistakes. As my grandfather always said, "You can fit more in a crooked row."

A Season of Change

As we approach the spring season you may notice some changes taking place at Bob's. Both here on the internet and also in our stores we are gearing up for a beautiful spring. To get things started we have rolled out an updated Facebook page that now utilizes the new timeline interface and makes it easier to join in the conversation. Share your garden photos, ask questions, or even message us directly on Facebook.We are also working on a fully redesigned e-newsletter!

In our stores expect to see a larger selection of great plants and products. We are also planning a number of awesome events just for you! Be sure to mark your calendars for the Spring Color Tour or, if you live in the Belpre area, seats are still available for the Belpre in Bloom motorcoach tour.

March 2012

1st Seeds Planted Now Tend To Rot In The Ground.

2nd-4th Best Planting Days For Aboveground Crops, Especially Peas, Beans, Cucumbers And Squash, Where Climate Is Suitable. Plant Seedbeds And Flower Gardens.

5th-8th A Most Barren Period, Best For Killing Plant Pests Or Doing Chores Around The Farm.

9th-11th Favorable Days For Planting Root Crops, Fine For Sowing Hay, Fodder Crops, And Grains. Plant Flowers.

12th-13th Excellent Time For Planting Root Crops That Can Be Planted Now, And For Starting Seedbeds. Good Days For Transplanting.

14th-16th Poor Planting Days.

17th-18th Any Root Crops That Can Be Planted Now Will Do Well.

19th-20th A Barren Period, Best Suited For Killing Pests. Do Plowing And Cultivating.

21st-22nd Favorable Planting Days: First Day For Beets, Carrots, Radishes, Salsify, Turnips, Peanuts, And Other Root Crops. Good Day For Transplanting. Last Day For Aboveground Crops. Both Days Good For Planting Cucumbers, Melons, Pumpkins And Other Vine Crops, And For Setting Strawberry Plants.

23rd-24th Cultivate And Spray, But Do No Planting.

25th-27th Favorable For Planting Crops Bearing Yield Above The Ground.

28th-29th Seeds Planted Now Will Rot In The Ground.

30th-31st Best Planting Days For Aboveground Crops, Especially Peas, Beans, Cucumbers And Squash, Where Climate Is Suitable. Plant Seedbeds And Flower Gardens.

Uncle Jim's Almanac is based on the age-old method of using the moon to determine fertile and barren periods. It can be used in any region where the climate is suitable for growing.

"He that speaks much, is much mistaken."

-Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack, 1736

Kitchen Head

Garlic Asparagus with Lime

by: Crystian

Ingredients

1 teaspoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 medium shallot, minced
1 bunch fresh asparagus spears, trimmed
1/4 lime, juiced
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Melt butter with olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in garlic and shallots, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in asparagus spears; cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Squeeze lime over hot asparagus, and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to serving plate, and garnish with lime wedges.

Send your recipes to ask@bobsmarket.com

Picture of the Week

Spring Pansy

Photo by: John Morgan

Taken: 2/17/12
Send Your Garden Photos to ask@bobsmarket.com

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Bob's Market & Greenhouses
Mason, West Virginia 25260
1-800-447-3760