I am famous for thinking I will remember things because once upon a time, I had an excellent memory. I could recall anything. That day is not this day.
I love the garden. I love to think of all the possibilities, I love to provide for my family, I love to teach my children the importance of where their food comes from. A garden does all of that and so much more.
As I go through the motions of the day to day work and commitment a garden takes, I think of the things I will do different next year.
In no particular order they are:
1. I will only grow six -- SIX -- tomatoes of each variety. That's it. Someone send me to this statement next year when I gleefully start throwing seeds in starter.
2. I will use one container per variety. Milk cartons turned on their sides work so very well for this purpose. They hold about six peppers or tomatoes and can be filled to allow for root development. One variety per. That way you are able to skip the transplanting on it's own step, and go straight to the garden. Less work means you are more likely to stick with your work and not get tired and let stuff go so leggy.
3. I will start my hot peppers in February. Maybe even January. Late January. They take a long time to grow. These peppers take even longer here in Saskatchewan.
4. I will start my sweet peppers in March.
5. Speaking of that, I will record which varieties grew well for me.
6. I will tag my seedlings with masking tape identifying what variety they are in the containers. I am not going to pretend I will do this in the garden.
7. I will find some pointy pieces of board for row markers and attach the variety types to that, before I plant.
8. I will not plant my potatoes 8 inches deep. Whoops.
9. I will start my onions and leeks in January. Plant as much of those as I want, and hopefully painstakingly drop little seed by little seed.
10. Cabbages and broccoli can be started in late January as well. This is good news, because by January I am so itchy to grow something it is painful.
11. In February, if I can't stand it any longer, I can start a few 90-100+ days to mature varieties of tomatoes. Because those need the biggest head start, and it doesn't seem to hurt them at all to grow for that long. Good varieties to try are Brandywine types, or Black Krim. I will not start any romas until the second week of April. I SWEAR.
12. I will not put my grow light in my basement. It is too damn cold down there.
13. Must find area to fit grow lights.
14. In fall, set in some peas, lettuce, onions, and cabbages so next year we can log and record whether they will come up again or not.
15. Record, record, record.
I imagine this list shall grow. If there is anything you have decided you will do or not do next year, let me know!
Jackie
