| It’s winter – from now through spring, if you are a gardener, expect garden seed catalogs. If you plan to place an order or two, here are a few tips and ideas that you might find helpful. First, do an inventory of what seeds you already have. Many seed packets have more seeds than we use in one season. If stored properly, many are fine to use the next season or beyond (see How to Store Leftover Garden Seed). Then compare the list of seeds that you have with the list of seeds you plan to order. Be mindful of the available space you have to plant. I plant both a patio container garden and a garden plot at a local community garden. One of my favorite winter activities is making sketches of possible garden layouts. This helps me figure out how much space I actually have to plant. It’s not unheard of to have great expectations and order many wonderful selections only to run out of room to plant them. If you keep a garden journal, review how last year’s season went and give some thought to whether it makes sense to expand or reduce your efforts. Are there plant varieties that worked really well and deserve another spot in the garden or some that need not apply for the 2025 season. If you don’t keep a garden journal, think about starting one. It’s a great way to keep your garden life organized (gardener’s confession: this is advice I often give but am not so great at following but I do start a journal every year…). There are many ways to keep a journal from good old paper and pencil to computer spreadsheets or Smart device apps. When making an order, pick a packet of something new. Trying something new, whether a vegetable, flower or herb can be exciting as well as help widen your garden repertoire, if the new item is a success (I do this with recipes too. Every month, I try a new recipe and if it works, I add it to the list of meals I like to make). Lastly, if you garden with children, let them make some selections, particularly with vegetables. If they plant vegetables, help them grow and harvest them, kids are more likely to try them at the dinner table. For gardening questions, please feel free to contact me at margaret.murphy@wisc.edu or at 715-726-7957.Remember, it’s never too early to think about gardening! |
| Additional Winter Topic Reading Winter Salt Injury and Salt-tolerant Landscape Plants Analysis of Dormant Shade Trees |
