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January 25, 2023
Thoughts to ponder when planning a garden
In Bandera County, if you are planning to start a garden this spring, now is a good time. We will need to do some planning before we get to the end of March when we will be planting our garden. We are normally done with below freezing temperatures by that time in our region.
To have a successful and prosperous garden, there are a few things to consider. These considerations include how much space you have for planting, how much free time you have for maintenance of your garden, what plants you want to grow and how many of each plant you desire to have.
The space you have available for planting depends partially on the style of gardening that works best for your situation; the size, and types of plants you choose and the equipment you have access to. Depending on your style of gardening, whether you have a raised bed style, container gardening or a tilled area on the ground level, you may be limited to a certain size or number of plants. Additionally, the size of the chosen plants comes into play; peppers, beans, and okra are some plants that do not take up much square footage per plant. However, plants such as tomatoes, squash and cucumbers require more space. In addition to the space taken up by the canopy of the plant, there are other requirements for space that must be considered. Tomato, squash, and pepper plants need to be planted with some space in between the to make room for harvesting. Furthermore, okra, beans and cucumbers may grow closer together.
Another consideration for planning a garden is the amount of time you have for maintenance of your garden such as removing of weeds, pest control and harvesting the vegetables. When thinking about the amount of time you have for maintenance of your garden, the size becomes a huge factor. The smaller the garden, the less time needed for maintenance. Therefore, if the only time available for maintenance your garden is after work or school, then you may need to consider a smaller, easier to manage garden.
When considering the type of plants that you desire to grow and the number of each type of plant you want, you should look at how much of these fruits or veggies your family consumes or the outlets you may have to give or sell the extra produce. In the current times, there are many friends, family and neighbors who could possibly use an extra food source.
Please feel free to contact the Bandera County Extension Office ((830) 796-7755) with questions.
To have a successful and prosperous garden, there are a few things to consider. These considerations include how much space you have for planting, how much free time you have for maintenance of your garden, what plants you want to grow and how many of each plant you desire to have.
The space you have available for planting depends partially on the style of gardening that works best for your situation; the size, and types of plants you choose and the equipment you have access to. Depending on your style of gardening, whether you have a raised bed style, container gardening or a tilled area on the ground level, you may be limited to a certain size or number of plants. Additionally, the size of the chosen plants comes into play; peppers, beans, and okra are some plants that do not take up much square footage per plant. However, plants such as tomatoes, squash and cucumbers require more space. In addition to the space taken up by the canopy of the plant, there are other requirements for space that must be considered. Tomato, squash, and pepper plants need to be planted with some space in between the to make room for harvesting. Furthermore, okra, beans and cucumbers may grow closer together.
Another consideration for planning a garden is the amount of time you have for maintenance of your garden such as removing of weeds, pest control and harvesting the vegetables. When thinking about the amount of time you have for maintenance of your garden, the size becomes a huge factor. The smaller the garden, the less time needed for maintenance. Therefore, if the only time available for maintenance your garden is after work or school, then you may need to consider a smaller, easier to manage garden.
When considering the type of plants that you desire to grow and the number of each type of plant you want, you should look at how much of these fruits or veggies your family consumes or the outlets you may have to give or sell the extra produce. In the current times, there are many friends, family and neighbors who could possibly use an extra food source.
Please feel free to contact the Bandera County Extension Office ((830) 796-7755) with questions.