Plan. Plan. Plan.

• Map out your garden, decide how big your garden will be.
• Make a dream list of all the veggies you would like to grow.
• Do some research into the vegetables you will grow. How much space do you need for each vegetable? For example, beet seeds need to be planted about 2cm apart, onions should be planted 12-15cm apart in rows 45-75cm apart, carrots should be thinned to 4-10cm apart when seedlings are 2cm tall. (This information is found on the back of the seed package.)
• Don't plant your seeds too early. Whether starting seeds indoors or out, it is possible to start too early. See the attached list for recommended planting times.
• But do get your seeds early - seeds are flying off the shelf, and there is potential for another seed shortage like last year.
• Think of planting your garden in stages. Plant rows of the same vegetable 2-3 weeks apart for a longer harvest window.
• Don’t forget to plan for any bedding plants you may be growing, i.e., cucumbers, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli.
• If you are thinking about growing potatoes, be aware, potatoes take up a fair amount of space, if the garden is small, you may not be able to fit potatoes in your space. You may consider a community garden or purchase from farmer’s market.
• If you are thinking about growing tomatoes and/or peppers, they would go in the garden last, but you would still need to plan space for them.
• Journal what you have planted, what seeds you used, what the weather was like, how your garden turned out, and include a drawing or blueprint of your garden so you can go back and see what worked and what didn’t for subsequent years.

As always, contact the greenhouse at Country Living if you have any questions - 403-938-4094.