February is a good time to begin planting your garden. Be it vegetable or flower, many of the warmer regions around the country can take advantage of early planting at the end of winter. Proper organization and planning ensures you will have plenty of room left to sow your spring plants right alongside the ones you plant in February. [photo via flickr]
Sketch a Plan
Put your garden on paper for an easy way to organize plants and keep track of the space you have left. The size of your garden depends on the land you have available, and the amount of time you are willing to spend caring for it. You won’t want to plan a huge garden that requires a lot of care if you don’t have the time to do it. Decide how big you want your garden to be and using graph paper, draw it to scale.
Decide the types of plants you would like in your garden and read planting and space requirements for each one. Draw sections or rows on your sketch to indicate where each one should go. If you are planning to include more plants that require planting in spring, be sure to include them in your drawing, too.
Need More Room?
If you are limited on space, but want to include as many vegetables as possible in your garden, opt for ones that grow vertically instead of across the ground. Pole beans produce for several months and take up very little space. Scarlet runners are another option and add a nice touch of color when they blossom. By planting vegetables of this nature, you can plan more space for something else.
By planning and organizing your garden before you start, you will have a better idea of the space needed for both your February planting and your spring planting. You will be able to include everything you wish to have in your garden and will not end up spending money on plants or seeds you may not have room for. Keep your plans from year to year so you can change what did not work the previous year, or expand your garden as space permits. You will find an organized plan makes for a much more successful garden with less effort on your part.
