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    Home » Gardening

    Ideas on How to Start Your 1st Spring Vegetable Garden

    Published 1 March 2017 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

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    Spring is almost here and after a snowy, icy winter it's time to welcome the sunshine and each new morning as the days grow longer. For those of us who love to garden this is a busy, happy time with lots of planning and much to do. This article will hopefully encourage you to start your own vegetable garden this Spring.

    Spring zucchini, tomatoes & squash
    Spring zucchini, tomatoes & squash (& portable pollinator pots)

    Spring is Coming - 1. Start a Vegetable Garden

    1. Pick a sunny, at least 6 hours per day, well-drained area in your back (or front) yard
    2.  Build or buy a frame for your space then dig up your dirt or lawn (or remove if needed).  A small raised bed is a great beginning. Here are some ideas for your own raised beds
    3. Add 50% compost and 50% organic soil
    4. Plant your transplants or seeds after the last frost-free date for your area
    Scarlet runner beans produce well in a part shady area
    Great Spring starter. Scarlet runner beans produce well in a part shady garden

    Ideas for planting:

    If you are a beginner start with transplants suitable for your area:
    • 4 or 6 - Tomato transplants depending on size of garden patch  Check out 15 reasons to Grow tomatoes 
    •  2 - Zucchini transplants although these are so easy to grow from seed direct or inside on the kitchen window
    • Scarlet runner beans - best if you can trellis at the end of the bed to save space.
    • Inter-crop with lettuce, green onions & greens
    • Only grow vegetables you and your family enjoy!

    Begin with one bed (4 x 4 or 4 x 8), go at your own pace and enjoy your achievements.

    Organized recycling
    Add a layer kitchen scraps
    Australian style
    Coffee filters added to composts
    Coffee filters added to compost
    Fresh compost
    Worms abound in a healthy compost
    Recycled wood Pallets - great compost idea
    Recycled wood Pallets - great compost idea
    Raccoon proofing composts
    Easy to make & use compost
    The finished compost

    2. Recycle & Make Compost 

    Compost enriches your soil without additives and is a great mulch:
    1. Pick an area for your bin which has some sunshine as this will speed up decomposition
    2. Decide on a container. I use rodent proof (from moles, squirrels, etc), lidded black bins
    3. Ensure the compost is accessible both to fill and empty - for example wheelbarrow access is perfect
    4. I mix or more correctly layer household food scraps with soil, organic chicken manure, hay, coffee grounds and filters, lawn clippings

    Ideas for composting:

    Recycle your food wastes into compost and cut methane gas
    ~ Compost is great using 50 / 50 with organic soil in containers or as a mulch around transplants
    ~ Coffee grounds are an asset in compost and as a mulch
    ~ Refrain from compositing diseased plants especially tomato or zucchini
    ~ Check out the many good ideas for making your own compost bins

    ~ There just never seems to be enough compost

    "Composting food and garden waste results in less emission
    than would  be produced by the same items in landfill."
    ~"Climate Change" by P. Holper & S. Torok

    How Does your Garden Grow

    If you have the time and space, once your new garden is  flourishing, add a second raised bed. Try growing a few kale plants or greens. As these grow quickly they are easy to start from seed. There is much to learn about gardening  but the important thing is to start and secondly not to be overwhelmed. I have gardened all my life and learn something new all the time. Have fun with your garden and spend time looking at what other people are doing and visiting local nurseries. Very best wishes for a great summer in the garden.

    Sunny Days Ahead:
    Daylight Savings begins Sunday, March 12, 2017
    Spring Equinox, the 1st day of Spring begins Monday, March 20, 2017

    Links & References:

    • It's Springtime in the Garden (2012)
    • Portable Pollinator Pots 
    • Here's where it all began in 2009 Beginning Gardening 101
    • Free "recycled" 10 minute gardens
      Free "recycled" 10 minute gardens
      Three level raised bed garden = new vegetable garden
      Three-levels raised bed garden = new vegetable garden
      Raspberry canes in raised bed, Fall - Skimmerhorn Winery, Creston, B.C.
      Surplus bricks = raised bed garden
      Surplus bricks = raised bed garden
      Australian style raised bed garden
      Australian style raised bed garden
      Local school project
      Local school project
      Beds with polytubing and automated deer repellant sprinkler system
      Beds with poly tubing & automated deer repellant sprinkler system
      Simple raised bed grows plentiful vegetables
      Simple raised bed grows plentiful vegetables
      Recycled corrugated plastic panelling
      Recycled corrugated plastic panelling
      Original raised bed gardens 2008

    More Gardening Articles

    • Raccoon on shed roof (2020)
      A Raccoon "Inspired" Vegetable Garden Extension
    • Growing Healthy Garlic - update
    • Incredibly remarkable scenic views of the oceans, inlets & islands along the BC Pacific Coast
      Why I Love Where I live - #5
    • Stately buck deer in Fraser Valley urban city
      Fall is in the air - Watch for Wildlife
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    Hi, I'm Liz! I have been a happy gardener all my life. My goal on this blog is to share tips and resources to help you learn how to garden too. Passionate about all things "healthy". Life long learner and asker of "how".

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