If you spread all the catalogs out on the kitchen table and take a seat in front of them, you may feel a little overwhelmed. Like a kid in a candy store, so many choices of seeds in different varieties can be both stimulating and stunting. You want to dive right in with your many garden ideas, but where in the world should you begin?
Before you crack one of those crisp new catalogs, take a few minutes to imagine what you want your garden to be like during the coming year. Whether you’re a budding gardener or an old pro, there are a few questions that you should ask yourself:
- Do I want to grow food for myself and my family?
- What can we grow that we will eat and enjoy?
- Is my goal to start seeds to beautify my landscape?
- What type, color, or size of plant am I looking for?
- How can I maximize my garden’s growing potential?
- Do I know what plants grow well with one another?
- Do I want to grow a vegetable garden, flower garden, or both?
- Where will I grow my plants: in raised beds, in the ground, in containers, or a combination of these options?
Once you answer these questions, it’s time to start making a list of what you’ll be planting. It’s okay to be a little over-ambitious at this stage; you can always pare your list back later. Study the list you’ve made and think about space and timing. Do you have enough room in your garden to fit everything you want to grow? (You may be surprised at the variety of plants you can include in your garden, even if you have a small space).
Keep in mind that some plants require more area than others to thrive, and that your planting will most likely be spread throughout the spring and summer, and not be done all at once.
