Planning Our Garden

When there is 16 inches of snow on the ground in some parts of the country, one wonders how we could think of working outdoors in a vegetable garden. We are so fortunate to live in an area that although we do get some extreme temperatures in January and February we still have some good days that we can get out and do some gardening.


Planning Our Garden at Miz Helen's Country Cottage
Planning

The First Thing We Plan Is The Plot

 Up Stairs Garden
We have several garden area's here at the cottage. We have the Up Stairs Garden an area where we sometimes put early plantings of vegetables that will harvest before the August heat. 

Planning Our Garden at Miz Helen's Country Cottage

That's A Lot Of Onions!

Planning Our Garden at Miz Helen's Country Cottage

The Garden Gate Area

Planning Our Garden at Miz Helen's Country Cottage

I just love this garden area with 4 rectangle's and a stone path through the garden. One of the rectangle's has just herbs, one has just tomatoes, one has different peppers and the last has some specialty items with a few Zinnia's.;

Planning Our Garden at Miz Helen's Country Cottage

Every garden needs a few Zinnia's.


Planning Our Garden at Miz Helen's Country Cottage

I draw a plot plan of each section of the garden and name the rows and what will be in them. Then from that plan I can make a list of the seed and plants that we will be needing and what time of the year we will need them. I also refer to myGarden Journal, to give me more insight about rotation of the vegetables and what works best.

The Seeds And Plants

Now that the holiday decorations have been put away, there are seed catalog's laying on the table with sticky note markers on the pages.I love looking at the seed catalogs and checking out the new seeds for the year.

Planning Our Garden at Miz Helen's Country Cottage

I like to try new seeds as we go along and one of the new seeds I will be trying this year is the Hutterite Soup Dry Bean. This will be a great soup bean and we sure love a good bean soup here at the cottage.

Planning Our Garden at Miz Helen's Country Cottage

Another great soup bean that I will be trying this year is Jacobs Cattle Dry Bean, also known as a Trout Bean. This bean is often used for Boston Baked Beans.

Planning Our Garden at Miz Helen's Country Cottage


Soil Preparation
We take care of a lot of our soil preparation in the fall after the last harvest. The grounds are all cleaned and the soil is turned with a compost preparation from our own compost bin. We compost the year round making it easier for us to have an organic vegetable garden.

Planning Our Garden at Miz Helen's Country Cottage

We have a lot of fun with our Garden Compost Helper, named "Shreck"!

Whats A Good Time To Plant
Whats a good time to plant, is the one question that I get the most. That question is easy to answer for the local area that we live in, however if you asked me about any other area, I most likely won't know. One tool that I have found that you may enjoy from the Old Farmers Almanac isPlanting Dates Calculator. This link is awesome, just plug in your location and it will give you all the information you need for your area. Of course I still read the paper back Farmers Almanac, I guess I always will, but I sure like the convenience of the new technology.

We will be planting onions, cabbage, and collards this month. We will also be starting some very speical plants indoors.

If you are planning on going out to your garden in May and June to pick some lovely vegetables for your table then all that starts in January.I hope that you will start to plan your awesome garden so your harvest will be abundant!

My best garden buddy, and loving husband, Leonard, without whose help in the garden we would not have near the harvest that we have. He is AWESOME!


Planning Our Garden at Miz Helen's Country Cottage


Thanks so much for stopping by to spend some time with us today and enjoying some garden planning. Happy Gardening and come back to see us real soon!
Peace and Joy
Miz Helen

Miz Helen
Miz Helen

Cookbook Author, Recipe Developer, Organic Gardner.


Comments

  1. I love seed catalogs in January! So much promise of freshness to come.

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by Carole. Do you save your seed from season to season or do you always buy new seed? I just love seeds! Hope to see you again real soon!
      Miz Helen

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  2. Gardening is so out of my element, so I'm definitely going to need to follow you on your gardening journey this year! I look forward to seeing those bean recipes! Where do you live, Miz Helen? I'm a newer follower of your blog, so I'm out of the loop!

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    1. Hi Rachel,
      I am so excited that you want to come along on our garden journey. We live about 1-1/2 hours southeast of Dallas on a small acerage about 1/2 a mile from the lake. It is a very peaceful community, we love it! Thanks so much for stopping by, I am looking forward to seeing you here at the cottage again real soon!
      Miz Helen

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    2. Texas. Love it! I'm from a small cattle town in Florida that seems a little bit like Texas, lol! I now live in Orlando in the suburbs. I'll be living (and gardening) vicariously through your posts!

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  3. It is a little too early to start planting for me here in Virginia, but I have already bought all my seeds and plotted out my veggie garden. I will start the seeds in March and I already look forward to it. I love the process. I am chomping at the bit for Spring.

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    1. I always get so excited about the seeds as well Judy. After they are planted I am watching everyday to see how much they grow. Thanks so much for stoppin by, good to see you here at the cottage!
      Miz Helen

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  4. Just bought my first packs of seeds this past week! We live about 30 miles north of Houston. Can't wait until it dries up a bit to get out and get busy!

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    1. Hi Roseann,
      You have sure had a lot of rain there, we have had quiet a bit but not as much as you. We are so lucky to live where we can plant so early. Thanks so much for stopping by the cottage!
      Miz Helen

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  5. We live in an apartment and I would love a garden. Thanks for sharing yours with us at #OvertheMoon link Party.

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    1. You are so welcome, I love coming to your party and sharing. Thanks so much for stopping by and hope to see you again!
      Miz Helen

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  6. Gardening in January -- 'tis a wonderful dream! It's 24 degrees here, icy and windy albeit with bright blue skies. The soil won't warm up till April so lots of time to drool over the catalogs you inspired me to request. (Would love to have a Shrek too!) Featured this week at Busy Monday.

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Your visit has been very special. I look forward to your comments, they are like opening little gifts. Thank you for stopping by and hurry back!
Miz Helen