The days are getting longer, the seed catalogs are in the mailbox, the plants are greening up. It is time to focus on organizing for the new planting season.
Take a LookBefore you even put a trowel to the ground, take a walk around your yard and see what areas need attention. Make careful notes about tasks and purchases you need to do.
Evaluate YourselfBe honest about your gardening desires and abilities. If your abilities are to a minimum, you’ll want to limit those interests. If you’re new to gardening, what skills do you have? Which plants do you want to grow?
You may not want to spend money on plants that are too fancy – more plastic flowers than living things. If your abilities match the type of budget you’re working with, there are plenty of opportunities for self-sufficiency.
Start SeedsTake a walk around your yard and learn what conditions your plants enjoy. The conditions and types of plants available in seed catalogs are a good indicator of what grows best in your area. You can prepare soil by using the compost in garbage cans or purchase tested soil so you know your soil needs are met.
Start Seeds
Plant Out
Plant time is out. Gardening is waiting! For those of us that live in Northern climates, the wait for spring begins with the first big snow falling. But, it is at this time of year when the ground is either too wet, too dry or too… well, too much in love.
Planting is best done when both the soil and the weather conditions are ideal. For instance, if you have the soil and wind conditions but not the temperatures, you should avoid planting seeds out when the ground is frozen.
On the other hand, spring tends to bring rain, which is the sort of weather seed savers love. It can be too wet as well as too dry and soil conditions can be thrown under the weather. Learning the patterns of the weather is one of the best ways to plant all types of garden plants.
Start Seeds
If you are buying seedlings, ensure you buy healthy, lively plants that are not wilting in the soil. Pluck off any dead leaves and when you are done planting, top the plants up with mulch or peat and keep them moist – since seedlings are often sold in little peat pots, this is an excellent way to keep them moist without shocking them.
Make Your Own FertilizerWhether you have a half acre of land for a garden or a small balcony, you can grow a variety of plants by making your own fertilizers. Easily obtainable and cheap, it can be made up on a regular basis.
Fish EmulsionAnother great plant fertilizer. Fish emulsion can be made up in a 20gallon bucket of water. Start with 5 gallons of water and 1 tablespoon fish emulsion, stir until well mixed and let sit for a week. Strain and repeat with 5 gallons of water, 1 tablespoon fish emulsion and stir until it is well mixed.
Make Your Own Garden Fertilizer
Now that you have nutrient in your soil, you can begin to fertilize your garden. fish emulsion at half strength, organic matter at half strength, chicken manure at quarter strength and peat moss at a quarter strength.
Aquaponics Fish SelectionAfter you set up your system, choosing the fish for your aquaponic system comes next. Of the hundreds of different species of fish commonly caught in local lakes and rivers, only a few are suited for aquaponics.
choosing fish is not a difficult task. It only requires a quick evaluation of how well your chosen fish will survive. Each fish is different, but a few things common to all fish, regardless of variety, are its overall size, body shape and weight, and its color and pattern.
When stocking your fish tank, be sure to choose the kind of fish that survived in the area you will be immersing your fish in. If you are not sure, try a few of the local ponds. From there you should be able to determine which species of fish will survive in your environment.
As for plants, be sure to choose plants that are suited for the temperature, lighting, and conditions in your fish tank or container. Unless you are growing plants to be consumed, keep the container in a location receiving as much sun as possible. This will prevent thinning of the leaves.
Follow these rules and you are well on your way to having a successful, low maintenance backyard garden.
