Such a Seedy Joint

Seeds.

You see them every spring.  The end caps at Wal-Mart.  Freestanding cardboard displays at the grocery & pharmacy.  By mid-February, they are everywhere.  And after a few warm days, they're gone.  Those tiny little paper packages with bright colored pictures of produce hold a lot of hope. 

It can be overwhelming standing in front of those displays.  First thing is first: what will you, your SO, or your family eat?  If no one will eat radishes, then it would be a waste to plant them.  That's not saying don't try something new every now and then, just remember to start with the produce you know will get eaten.

Then decide if you want just any seeds,

Or organic seeds

I use both.

Fail proof produce includes lettuce (unless your FIL decides to be a helper and till it all under, not that I know anything about that), green beans, and sunflowers.  Yes, sunflowers.  You can eat the seeds you know!

Knowing your soil type and weather can help as well.  Our soil has a higher clay content, so short & fat carrots grow better than traditional long orange carrots.  If it's a hot, dry summer, I have great success with okra.  Cooler summers lead to a cucumber overload (which my kids & I LOVE).  I will admit, that I try okra every single summer, no matter what, and enjoy what I get.

So, you bought the seeds for what you know you'll eat, a couple packs of something new to try, and something weird, like red corn.  Now what?  Now, you need to decide if you're going to start your seeds indoors well before planting season (which is usually when frost ends) or if your planting them straight into the ground around the time frost usually ends.  I do both.  Not because I'm crazy, but because it gives me a longer yield to have more mature plants and new seeds in the garden at once.  When the older plants are done producing, the seeds I planted have become producing plants.

Now, are you planting in a plot or in containers?  CONTAINERS?!  Yes, containers.  Lots of plants are grown in containers quite well.  Lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, peas, & green beans, just to name a few.  Container gardening is perfect for apartments, condos, homes with small yards, the handicapped, children, and windowsills.  It's also perfect for you.  It takes up just a little space, and provides you with yummy produce, minimal effort required.  We have 3 pots of lettuce & spinach by our back porch.  It's pretty  :-)

A plot is what that tilled up square of dirt is called.  It can be directly on the ground or in a raised bed.

I usually add organic garden food to my soil before planting.  I swear, it makes a difference!  There are lots of brands out there, organic & inorganic.  Whatever you can afford or want to use is up to you.  This is what I use:

Now, go decide how you are going to plant your seeds.  Make a plan.  Draw a picture of your garden layout.  Pay attention to what plants need lots of sun & what plants dont' need as much.  Sun loving plants can partially shade plants not so fond of the sun's warm rays.  Decide how many cages you need or if you need a trellis (cucumbers thrive on trellises).  And have fun.  Why have a garden if you don't like it?