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Planting Plans for Beginners

I love your ambition. You are a go-getter! But just because the Derby horses are running in Kentucky doesn't mean you have to rush to plant your home garden. 

A common mistake beginning gardeners make is planting without planning. This isn't you, is it?

You know how much space you have, you bought a ton of seeds and plants, and now the weather is right but, what now?

Here are some helpful tips on creating a Planting Plans:

First, get an idea as to how much space your plants need, especially if your garden area is small. If you have unlimited space you may place your plants further apart and add in more aisle space.

Grab some graph paper, create a veggie key, and sketch out your bed dimensions. Start penciling in your plant selections by size.

Here is a good rule of thumb... 

Nine to 16 small-sized plants like radish, carrots, and lettuces can be packed into a square foot.

Four to six medium-sized plants like garlic, Swiss chard, beets, and cilantro can fit into a...

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What is the secret to having tomatoes in my fall salad garden?

 
What you may not know about home gardening could be keeping you from enjoying your precious vegetables well into fall!
 
Here is the secret to having ripe tomatoes for Fall Salad Gardens:
 
Depending on your climate (hardiness zone) you can have established tomato plants while your newly planted lettuces are just maturing! Google “hardiness zones” and type in your city or zip code. This gives you average frost date windows for your area.  This means that tomatoes can survive until your expected frost date!  Kentucky spans Three Hardiness Zones: 6a, 6b, and 7.
 
More simply Google “how many days are in my growing season!”  Louisville, KY has a 205 day growing window!! That means we can expect to be gardening from April thru October.  Plant a blend of tender and hardy salad greens to enjoy before winter freezes (usually December around here).
 
Even better news for those of you that...
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Home gardens ease food shortage concerns

As a former Kentucky farmer, I take it seriously when friends DM me about food shortages happening in their area.
 
And I’m embarrassed to say, that I’ve lost touch with the reason I started growing food in the first place.  You may be familiar with it's romantic appeal.  It swept me away a long time ago.
 
I started growing food to make a difference in my community.
 
To provide quality food choices in my area, and in my home.
 
To contribute to local food production for local food security.
 
Like many, I feel in love with the art & craft of edible gardening and left the problem behind me.  
 
And now with the supply chains breaking down due to labor shortages, COVID-19, shut downs, etc - the problem is front and center again.
 
Everyone is beginning to feel the strain and frustration of unavailable products and services.
 
Some communities have been experiencing this lack for...
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Fall Garden Planning

I love this time of year!  It's hot, plants are flourishing, and seasonal changes are upon us.  We just started our Fall garden planning, planting & even some raised bed building!
 
August is the month to begin transitioning summer plants to fall plants. You’ll start to notice plant productivity begin to slow down. Those plants will eventually be removed to make space for your soon-to-be fall garden plants.  I like to cut the plants at their base to remove the stem and foliage, leaving the root system for the worms and microbial life to nibble on.  
 
Once you select a location, or make space, you may begin to sow fall carrots & beet seeds directly into the garden.   You may also transplant fall lettuces and brassica (broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower) plants now through early September.  You may try seeding radishes, spinach, and baby salad greens now as well.  It may be too hot yet, so reseeding may be...
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Kentucky Garden Layout made easy

 
Is creating a planting layout a challenge for you?  
 
If so, I want to offer you my most precious tool = planting by size of the plant, & it’s duration in the ground.   
 
This Interplanting idea has made planting so much easier, prettier, & practical for me.  
 
It utilizes all the space without overcrowding.  It adds biodiversity to the garden’s ecosystem.  It doesn’t deplete any one nutrient from the soil.  It doesn’t attract all the pests all at once.  
 
Interplanting this way has been a game changer for my clients and myself.  
 
If you want your vegetable garden to have a diversity of colors, textures, and sizes, follow this philosophy!
 
If you’d like more personal help, you can join our local Garden Party series or sign up for a local or virtual consultation!
 
We can help you transition your existing garden, or start fresh!  We love...
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