Survival Gardening
1744 Pyatt Rd.
Hartville, MO 65667
Toll Free: (866) 424-3185
http://www.whiteharvestseed.com
Designing Your Garden For Success
From the very beginning, there was a garden. Those who came before us learned – just as we must learn – that to efficiently live off the land and provide for our families we must grow our own food. It is not a new concept, by any means, but to some it still remains a foreign one. Fortunately, if necessity can teach us, it can teach them as well.
While every gardener dreams of a bountiful harvest, not every garden always grows according to plan. The reason for this is sometimes difficult to pinpoint since every garden faces its own unique circumstances and struggles. However, any garden may be improved with an added dose of knowledge and patience.
Long before you sow
the first seed or try a fresh recipe, you should start
with a plan. A properly designed garden is oftentimes
overlooked, but it is an essential ingredient to a healthy
harvest. It's very important to know which plants will
grow well in your area, what their characteristics and
requirements are, and what their benefits will be for your
family. If you want your kids to eat more vegetables, a
proper garden layout will promote healthier plants and
children. Those who ignore this valuable step pay a price.
Overly-crowded crops, stunted plants, and disappointing
yields are the guaranteed results of this unfortunate
oversight. Not to mention the lost opportunities for
saving seed. There's no reason to garden like this. As
I've come to learn – prepare first, then plant!
Creating some garden blueprints just takes a little attention to detail. Figure out your preferences early on. For example, if you're hoping to preserve and save seed for future seasons, you must be familiar with the correct harvesting and saving techniques. You must also know what types of seed will be sown and what space is allowed in your garden. There really is quite the checklist.
Selecting the right seed is essential. The altered genetics of Hybrid seed make it an incapable producer of continual true-to-type varieties, while Open-Pollinated Heirlooms are praised for doing just that. Once a farmer brings an heirloom to his table, he won't want to grow anything else. Each one – with its great quality, taste, and reliability – is a treasure.
As for spacing, the question of where to plant requires organization in and out of the garden. If you're planning on saving seed, you must learn to watch, as well as prevent, unwanted cross-pollination. When two plants of the same botanical family cross, their seed will not produce the exact same traits the following season. To preserve a particular strain, each botanical family will need their space. You must reserve each veggie their sufficient amount of room or else next year's seed will not grow reliably. An organized layout will keep all such factors in harmony.
While making your
plans, think of possible problems in order to prevent them
before they happen. Let's say the garden space becomes
exhausted. If trellises are penciled in on the layout,
they will fix that headache before it even arises. I love
training my plants to climb up, instead of out, saving
both the garden and my back from stress. Such vegetables
including pole beans, small gourds, melons, and cucumbers
will all flourish when grown this way. Trellises can be
easily made from anything sturdy enough to offer support.
Fence posts, cattle panels, bamboo, re-mesh wire, or even
discarded volleyball nets will work for certain varieties.
Every garden design will undoubtedly have its share of variables, though. Location, for example, is certainly an issue for my family here in the Missouri Ozarks, where the soil contains mostly rock and red clay. Container gardening and raised beds are a great substitute and/or addition for such problems. When constructed first in the blueprints, they'll also quickly improve the surroundings with unique style and color.
One other variable to consider when strategizing is the matter of companion planting. It is our job as the gardener to know each plant's requirements and grow them as efficiently as possible. Companion planting is an essential step to sustainable living. For instance, tomatoes – a front runner in almost every garden – will thrive beside carrots and basil. We plant these three together to improve growth and flavor as well as for protection from harmful insects. We've also learned that growing corn or broccoli near tomatoes only introduces disease and crop failure.
Another reason to remember companion planting when putting ideas to paper is for your garden's visitors – namely butterflies and other helpful insects – which are drawn to flowers and veggies. All sorts of creatures can benefit from our work.
There is no question that a well-designed garden speaks for itself. Living successfully off the land is so much more than simply carrying prolific crops to the house with warm reception. It's about the work and heart behind the glorious results. You have to have one to have the other.
That is why my family started our heirloom seed company. Knowing just what hopes are sown in the soil, we created a designing gardens program in order to help gardeners in this early, overwhelming stage. Of the pertinent information we include, there are planting instructions, seed saving guidelines, suggested companion plants, and a full customized garden layout – all for free.
There are many steps to success – each significant in their own way. Through my family's business – White Harvest Seed Company – we hope to help folks grow more sufficiently. Sowing with unanswered questions will not get a gardener anywhere, but sowing with a plan does.
Gardening for Survival
Tuesday, 26-Apr-2011
Salem, Missouri
Planting
If
you
are new to the garden scene, you may not know exactly what to
plant. Or how to go about planting what you want. you may not
have the tools to plant or know when to plant. Let us answer a
few of these questions, in the hope that a productive garden
is the result. Also keep in mind that what might work for your
neighbor may not work for you and that what is expressed here
is by no means an absolute. You will need to do your homework
to see which method suits you the best.
Under the topic of planting we will discuss, what you will
need, types of seeds, growing conditions, when to plant, How
to plant and What to plant (primarily companion planting)
What do you need?
What do you need, is a simple enough statement. At the very basic implication it refers to seeds, plants, cuttings. And then your tools: Shovel, Hoe, Rake, and a knife or scissors.
Let us start with seeds:
What
ever
you do, in these trying times, Do Not, I repeat, do not buy
hybrid seed. As a matter of fact stay as far away from hybrid
seeds, plants and cuttings as possible. Even if your interest
is not seed production. The sequence of genes in a hybrid
plant are being copy written and huge seed companies are now
starting to sue farmers where the genes happen to pop up in
the field. So to play it safe, for health and finance stay
away from hybrids and GMO (Genetically modified organisms)
You will want to plant seeds that are preferable of last
year’s production. If not last years then the year before
that. However take note that the older the seed, the less
likely they are to germinate. For the simple fact is that
within every seed there is a spark of life, and as time goes
by it will eventually die out. But most seeds are good for 3
to 5 years after production.
Plants
There maybe the possibility of buying open pollinated or heirloom plants at your local nursery, hardware, or feed store. If this is possible you may be able to skip the germination process. Which could save time and energy. But make sure you pick plants that are Not flowering. Plants that are flowering usually have wasted a lot of energy to do so, and they generally don’t transplant as well as some of their less showy sisters and brothers. Check for diseases, viruses and fungus. Never bring these home. Plants need to be of a good rich color and not tall or lanky. Sturdy stalks, no flowers, no curled leaves, no off coloring and no bugs. But of course this may not be an option if no stores are open for business.
Cuttings
Again cuttings can save time and energy. However they may not be available at the beginning of the season. Again use the same discretion in choosing your cuttings as in choosing your plants. But you may have a harder time seeing if the packing soil they are in has bad bugs, viruses, bacteria or fungus in it.
Shovel, rake and hoe
These
three
implements are arguable some of the oldest tools known to man.
A larger then average garden may be put in with only these
tools. The shovel can be used to turn the soil, dig
holes, dig up plants, cut roots below the surface, and
incorporate humus, and other soil amenities.The rake is used
to gather or spread materials on the ground. The Hoe is used
to disturb the soil and break the fine roots of weeds.
Plus all three may be used as a weapon of self-defense.
Types of seeds
Seeds
come
in many different sizes, shapes and colors. The coconut, corn,
peas, beans, sesame, flax and pecans are all seeds. They all
have one purpose, to reproduce plants of their kind.
Above all, when planting a garden that you wish to save seed
from year after year, buy only heirloom or open pollinated
varieties. Do not buy hybrids, most seeds at a feed store or
from a seed catalog are hybrids. Hybrid seeds will germinate
and produce a fine healthy plant, for one growing cycle. Many
of these plants have been bred to be exceptional in one area
or another. That area could be disease resistant or very
productive, enhanced color or aroma. However they were also
bred so that the traits they expressed would not breed through
and be seen in the next generation. When you save seed from a
hybrid and plant it you are running a high risk of getting
plants look nothing like their parents, they probably will not
be as productive, or as colorful, they may even be stunted in
their growth. Buy seeds that can be planted and saved year
after year after year.
Growing conditions
For many plants in your garden, frost is a death sentence. But
thankfully this is not true foe many members in the lettuce,
cabbage and broccoli family. These plants may take a slight
frost. This fact extends our growing season. And can be planted
as early as February and March, depending on where you are. The
rest of most garden vegetables will be planted late April
through early June. Again this depends on the vegetable and
where you live. You should always follow the directions on the
seed packages. If you plan on having a huge garden you may want
to consider a small green house or several cold frames. These
would allow you to start many plants earlier then usual and can
be used to harden off seedlings. There are many good ideas and
designs for green houses and cold frames in garden books and
magazines. You might be able to get second hand glass (with
chips and cracks in it) from your local glass shop. You can
usually find a way to use these. Remember adequate moisture,
sunlight and food is the requirements of every plant.
When to plant
I
prefer to plant using the signs of the moon. If you don’t
fine. I have proven this method to my self and I am quite
happy with it. You may purchase a calendar with signs on it or
get and almanac.
How to plant
Basically planting boils down to seeds coming into contact with the necessary light “or lack of”, water and warmth. Some seeds prefer to have their seed coat stratified (scratched, Broken, bruised) to allow the inside of the seed to emerge. Many gardeners prefer to place their seeds either in a bucket of water over night or on a damp paper towel (if the seed is small enough). Some seeds may need longer then over night (24-48 hrs). This process speeds up germination. After the seeds have soaked up some water they may be planted in seedling trays or directly into the garden. Make sure that you read the directions on the seed packages. Some plants do not like to be transplanted and need to be planted directly in the garden
What to plant
This
question
can be answered with 2 questions. What do you like to eat? And
what do you think you will need?
I, myself believe that a good balanced will kick most diseases
to the curb. I also like a lot of flavor in my food. So in my
garden there are a lot of herbs. Not only do they add flavor
to foods, but also they can be used to keep a person healthy.
You may want to look at plants that you can use for trade.
Such as tobacco or stevia. Whichever routes you take you need
to do your homework.
Companion planting
Companion planting has been used for centuries to aid one or
all the plants growing together. Such combinations are:
Soybeans and corn in neighboring rows. Tomatoes and cabbages
or tomatoes and asparagus. These aid each other, the beans fix
nitrogen for the corn. The tomatoes drive of flies from the
cabbages and asparagus.
If you wish to plant a little closer try planting radishes and
onions with lettuce or tomatoes. Cabbage and garlic or spinach
and cucumbers work as well.
This is by no means a complete list, feel free to experiment
with combinations. But remember you don’t want any thing that
will directly complete with each other. It might be possible
to harvest one before its companion really starts to grow.
Another aspect of companion planting is the idea of using
plants to attract pollinators for their companions. Most
plants used here are flowers. A few are Dill, Mustard,
Buckwheat and most wild flowers.
You may use plants to not only attract pollinators but also to
drive away or kill harmful insects. What is so good about
this, is that herbs fill the bill.
Several flowers will work as well. Tansy, penny royal, hyssop,
catnip, African and French marigolds all work to repel
insects. In fact the pyrethrum flower works so well that it
was made into a commercial spray years ago.
Please be careful Research has shown that some of these plants
have been known to actually attract the cabbageworm moth.
However a vegetable garden with flowers and herbs scattered
through out is always a lovely sight and should be a healthy
garden. That will produce healthy and nutritious food for the
gardener.
