The New Gardener: Getting ready for a new season of growing

Note: With the guidance of editor Doug Oster, new gardener Mike Palm is chronicling his adventures (or perhaps misadventures) in starting a garden.

So it’s been a few months, and I never really wrapped up what I learned about my first official year of gardening. Much like the tomatoes that were still growing in October, better late than never.

I don’t need to do much building this year, so that makes the beginning of the season that much easier. I’m going to add some fresh compost on top and improve the trellises so beans will be able to climb better.

So here are my three main takeaways:

• Make better use of the space: Last year, I planted a bunch of Brussels sprouts plants that took up a bunch of space, and they never produced anything edible. That’s a major waste of my limited real estate. I’m going to look into the square foot gardening method, and see if I can get some ideas.

• Use more succession planting: I’m thinking about planting more of some vegetables, like lettuce, but spread out so I’m constantly having new growth. And I’m definitely shooting to add some new stuff in the late summer for a fall harvest.

• Expand my growing: We’re going to add some planters to our deck, which is protected from the deer. My wife wants to grow corn and found some specifically for planters. That would take up too much space in the raised beds, but it should work out on the deck. I’m also hoping to add some flowers and herbs to some windowsill planters that have gone unused.

Doug says: I have a feeling the corn will go the way of the Brussels sprouts. It needs lots of room, even a container variety. Corn is wind pollinated, that’s why it needs to be planted in blocks as opposed to rows. If it was you trying the corn, I’d try and talk you out of it. Remember to get some more compost for those beds to continue improving the fertility. I’m excited to see how things work out this year considering how well you did last season.

And in case you’re wondering, here’s what the garden looks like now:

planning

Unfortunately, I never got around to building or installing anything to extend the season. (Both of my boys play ice hockey so that wound up taking a lot of time away in the fall/winter).

There are a few Brussels sprouts plants that I never bothered to take out. When I took a closer look, they were still growing new buds. Despite all the snow and freezing temperatures of the winter, they didn’t die. Now whether they get big enough to eat is another story.

And there are carrots in the front right that I forgot to thin out. (Oops.) I don’t think these would even qualify as baby carrots. Maybe preemies?

So now I guess it’s time to figure out what I’ll be doing this year. Stay tuned…

Doug says: Those carrots are still edible even though they are small. Great first year, let’s talk about what you want to plant this spring.