QUESTION: What are YOUR garden goals for 2012? Here are mine:
-Grow more flowers. In my yard, that means finding more flowers that thrive in the semi-shade that’s provided by the graceful maples and the giant, beautiful elm tree in our back yard.
-Keep trying for better success with tomatoes. That means figuring out how to outsmart squirrels. (Maybe I should give up on tomatoes in the kitchen garden out back and move tomato production to my garden plot at Farm in the City, the community garden I belong to downtown.)
-Double the produce by doubling the space for growing. I’d like to take on another raised bed at Farm in the City if there’s one available.
-Grow better peppers. I know that the secret is lots of sun and consistent water. There’s a lot of sun at Farm in the City; I need to work on the water part.
-Okra: plant less, pick more often.
-Grow more pole beans. Grow more cucumbers. Try squash again.
-Plant more shade-tolerant herbs. This is a project I started last spring – finding herbs that can grow happily in the shadiest of the eight raised beds in the kitchen garden out back. Success so far with curly parsley and red-veined sorrel. Hope to plant sweet woodruff and more borage, maybe nasturtium. Still trying to find lovage.
-Make peace with the wildlife in the backyard, while at the same time finding a way to keep the rabbits from eating the hostas.
-Plant more big, blooming perennials and annuals in the three little garden beds at Mom’s house.
-Visit as many public gardens as I can manage (especially interested in visiting Eudora Welty’s home and garden in Jackson, Miss. this spring).
-Enjoy every minute I can spend gardening, and writing, talking and teaching about gardening.
What plans do you have for your garden this year?
Filed under: Animals, Daylilies, Flowers, Gardens, Holidays, Kitchen gardens, Perennials, Seasons, Spring flowers, The Farm in the City, Tomatoes, Uncategorized, Vegetables | Leave a Comment »
