SPRING IS COMING LET’S PLAN A GARDEN!

SPRING IS COMING LET’S PLAN A GARDEN!

With warmer weather coming this week our thoughts turn to the garden. A little planning can result in success for either the beginner or the seasoned gardener.

1. Use graph paper to plot out space for your garden have each square represent one square foot.
2. Notice how much sun your plot gets. For full sun plants it needs full sun at least six hours per day.
3. Choose an area that has good drainage. Most garden plants need a lot of water but an area that does not drain well will quickly cause roots to rot.
4. Most soil in Chicago is clay like. Augment with sand and manure and peat moss. Of course you will have to wait till the ground thaws.
5. Now is the time when all the seed catalogues come in the mail. While I would not recommend starting from seed for beginners they are great for getting ideas for flowers and veggies to look for at the garden center later in spring.
6. Keep cognizant of how much space each plant needs. Tomatoes need a lot of space at least 3 square feet per plant. Beans and peas are climbers. They can be trained up a fence or trellis. Plant other veggies in front. Plant often harvested vegetables like lettuce and spinach in an easy to reach area.
7. Start out with a few plants of each vegetable that you like the best.
8. There are many places on the internet to get help with starting a garden. Home and Garden television is a good place to start also Better Homes and Gardens.

With a little planning you will have a bountiful garden!

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO