Basic Gardening - Planning and Preparation

This post covers some of the basic steps to be considered when implementing a home garden for growing vegetables, fruits, herbs, and other plants.

Prior to the design and construction of garden plots, a number of factors may need to be considered.

When choosing a location, it may be important to consider factors such as sun, drainage, etc. Availability of water and vehicle access may influence location choices.

In some areas, HOA rules or local regulations may also apply to gardens and other landscaping projects.

In some situations, soil tests may be useful prior to beginning a garden plot. A variety of soil tests are available for pH, trace elements, and detection of heavy metals or other pollutants. Soil tests are available from state agencies or commercial service providers.

Once a site is selected, the design process can begin. A number of traditional garden layouts exist that are adaptable to most projects.

After choosing the size and shape of the production area, gardeners can allocate plots to specific crops.

In addition to production plots, space should be allocated for equipment storage, composting, and other needs.

A common practice among beginner gardeners is to till a large plot and overplant. Large garden projects can require considerable labor. As the season progresses, gardeners can suffer burnout caused by unpredictable weather, weeds, pest control, disease, over production, and other issues.

Once the garden layout is resolved, tilling or turning of the soil is usually called for. Tilling is generally done in the spring but only after the soil becomes dry enough to break apart easily. Tilling too early can cause problems, especially in soils with a high clay content.

In many cases, garden soils will need some amount of remediation. Popular additions include liming, traditional pelleted fertilizer, compost, manure, peat moss, sand, or other products.

If raised or ground level beds will be used, those will need to be laid out and pathways created.

Acquiring seeds, seedlings, bulbs, plants, and other will also need to be done. When planting begins, gardeners need to monitor plots for a variety of needs.

Seeds and young plants need frequent care including watering, weeding, and monitoring for insect infestations, diseases, or other problems.

In some areas, animal damage is possible. The list of troublemakers can include dogs, cats, deer, rabbits, rodents, birds, and others.   

Related Information

How To Preserve Excess Produce

How To Preserve Excess Produce

With an over-abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, home gardeners are often confronted with a common question: "How to preserve excess produce?"

An array of preservation methods exist, each having advantages and disadvantages.

Canning

Most home gardeners are familiar with canning. This method is popular for jams, jellies, preserves, sauces, pickles, and some vegetables. Canning is inexpensive to implement but requires considerable skill. Improperly canned foods can be hazardous.

Pickling

Pickling is a good short-term solution for many items. Popular foods include saurkraut (cabbage) Kim Chi (spiced mixed vegetables), and others.

Freezing

Freezing is the easiest and most common way of storing fresh fruits and vegetables. Most foods freeze well initially but have a limited freezer life. Frozen foods consume energy while stored.

Drying

Drying is another popular technique for storing food. Drying can be accomplished by simple sun drying, dehydrating, low temp baking, freeze drying, or other methods. Dried fruits and vegetables are sometimes stored in refrigerators or freezers. 

Smoking

One of the world's oldest methods for preserving food, smoking can be an option with some foods. Smoking is most commonly done with meats but works well with other low moisture foods.

Related Information

How to Pickle Beets

Things To Do with Excess Fruits and Vegetables

Edible Institute 2022

Edible Institute 2022 will be held October 1-2 at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, Colorado.

Thought-leaders, journalists, food industry experts, and innovators in the sustainable food movement will join the public to share information.

Edible Communities, in collaboration with Food Tank, celebrates 20 years of telling the story of local food as stakeholders gather to explore the ideas, challenges, and changes that will shape food communities in the next decade and beyond. 

The keynote speaker for Edible Institute 2020 will be Dr. Temple Grandin, a scientist whose ground-breaking work in animal behavior has helped shape standards of excellence for the humane treatment of animals around the world.

Edible Institute 2022 Discussion topics include:

Grassfed Foods—Why It Matters

Blue Foods—Changing Menus, Saving the Planet

Sizes Matter—How to Scale and Still Change the Food System

Transparency and Traceability

Food Packaging

Food Labeling

All attendees are encouraged to try a Taste of Denver produced by Edible Denver, featuring sample bites and drinks from local food and drink artisans and producers.

For more information and tickets for Edible Institute 2022, visit www.ediblecommunities.com.