There are plenty of ideas out there about how best to organize your crops. Some people believe that different plants should be mixed together so as to discourage pests or create visually interesting garden scenes. Since there are virtually infinite crop combinations, it is impossible to give a set of exact rules for planting. But in this chapter from our book “Food Grown Right, In Your Backyard”, we share some general guidelines that should make garden planning easier.
Read MoreMid-Summer Succession Planting
Mid-July brings warmer weather to many regions, and this weather brings the end of pea season. It’s also the time when garlic and onions (bulbing alliums) have matured and are ready to be pulled from the garden to make room for another crop. So...what’s next? Just when you thought your garden was full and it was time to sit back and enjoy the bounty, it’s time to start planting again! There’s rarely a dull moment in a high-yield vegetable garden!
Read MoreCrop Planning: A year in my home Garden
April 28th in the garden described below.
Crop planning for the vegetable garden often feels overwhelming to new (and experienced) growers. There are many different schools of thought on how to plan and layout annual crops. As a result, there’s lots of conflicting information out there to confuse the well-intentioned researcher.
At Seattle Urban Farm Co., we create plans for 70 gardens each year. Our garden plans are devised to maximize the garden’s productivity, while keeping them neat and tidy. We organize our plantings to make ongoing maintenance as easy as possible.
Read MoreEpisode 59: Crops That Mature In 40 Days Or Less
This episode includes a round-up of crops that mature in 40 days or less. We picked 40 days because there are very few crops that can mature in fewer than this many days, but it is still a short enough period (just over a month) that it is easy to plan for and execute even in the waning days of the summer. Consider this your last call for planting and get out there and sow some seeds!
Read MoreEncyclopedia Botanica Podcast, Episode 27: Smart Seed Ordering Pt. 1
Growing from seed can have the potential to dramatically increase your opportunities for better yields by allowing you much more control over the varieties of each crop that you can plant in the garden. Keeping a well-stocked seed library also allows you to take advantage of production opportunities on your own schedule throughout the season.
Read MoreEpisode 26: Crop Rotation
Over the past two episodes, we discussed tools you can use to decide where your crops should be planted in a given season, but it's important to plan where to plant them from year to year. This week we are going to go over why you want to rotate and why certain crop families require more frequent rotation.
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