| When you plan your garden, there's more to think | | | | If you have a small garden plot and will be using hand |
| about than just what you want to plant. | | | | tools, then you can plan for closer plant spacing. You |
| Consideration should be made for how much produce | | | | could plant in beds or rows. If you will be using a |
| you can use, the equipment you have available to | | | | rototiller, you will want to plant in rows with ample |
| cultivate, what dates you will be planting, and even | | | | space for your particular rototiller. |
| the size of your mature plants. Not to mention | | | | Don't crowd your garden if you are planting in rows. |
| attention to sun and shade, and how close your | | | | It's a temptation to plant too close to allow enough |
| garden is to your water source and tool shed. | | | | room for a rototiller, especially when the plants are |
| Planning with these things in mind will result in a more | | | | so small. Leaving adequate space will allow for |
| productive and rewarding gardening experience. | | | | efficient cultivation, less damage to full grown plants |
| Knowing this, let's look closer at some of these | | | | and cleaner vegetables. |
| points. | | | | While we're on the subject, if you have limited space, |
| Yield | | | | consider planting in beds. Planting in beds allows for |
| Having a realistic picture of what you expect from | | | | more yield, less weeds because mature plants block |
| your garden is an essential factor in preparing for a | | | | sun from getting to the soil. The visual impact is very |
| garden. Do you have a large family and want enough | | | | rewarding, as well. |
| produce for eating fresh through the growing season | | | | Planting Dates |
| as well as enough to can or freeze? Or do you want | | | | Think about when you will plant your vegetables and |
| to have vegetables for the table in small quantities | | | | place them in the plan accordingly. Doing this will allow |
| from time to time? Now is the time to decide how | | | | you to care for just the planted section of your |
| big your garden should be. | | | | garden and leave the unplanted area alone until |
| If you are a beginning gardener, start slowly. If you | | | | needed. |
| plant too large a garden, or plan very intricate | | | | Also, remember that corn is much taller than |
| succession plantings, you may become discouraged | | | | tomatoes. When planting a taller crop, place it to the |
| by too large a workload or when your plans are | | | | north of the shorter one so as not to shade the |
| hampered by adverse weather or other unforeseen | | | | shorter plants. |
| misfortunes. Give yourself time to grow as a | | | | While the work involved in gardening can be |
| gardener. | | | | rewarding by itself, it's certainly worth planning your |
| Cultivation | | | | labor expenditures. Working smart and hard will |
| Keeping weeds out of your garden requires | | | | provide the fullest gardening enjoyment. |
| cultivation. How will you do this in your garden? | | | | |