Plotting the Garden and Organizing Seeds

After my new seeds arrive and I take stock of all the old usable seeds, I begin to plot where everything will grow (or at least where it will be planted) this season. My goal this year is to, even more than in past years, really focus on growing in succession. I usally plot the first sowing of seeds, but after the lettuce and radishes are done I sort of haphazardly throw some other seeds in their places without thinking it out. After creating a checklist to outline all the groups of vegetable seeds I have, I sketched out this year's garden to include what will be planted early spring, mid and late summer.

Yesterday I finalized my seedstarting/transplanting schedule so that I have a chart of what I'll be starting indoors or out, or transplanting week to week late winter through fall. Today I organized my seeds. I found a large shallow box and put all the seed packets in order according to my seedstarting chart. This way I can reference the chart each week and know exactly where to find the seeds.

Ben and I have agreed on a small lean-to greenhouse to install on the south side of our garage. This will help with seedstarting and hardening off in the spring and perhaps even growing some salad greens during the winter. I'm very excited! I'm planning to design and build some trellises for growing pole beans, peas, and cucurbitae varieties and made a trip to Farm & Fleet last week to pick up supplies (poultry wire and pig panel). The next step is to order the greenhouse, get supplies for my custom-mixed soiless seedstarting medium, and prepare my egg carton cum seedstarting containers.