Monthly Archives: November 2017

Episode-2121- Time to Start Planning for the 2018 Spring Garden [ 1:42:31 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It is Easy to Forget that Each Season is Really Only About 13 Weeks Long!

Each year usually in January or February I do a show on spring garden planting and it hit me that I should really do so earlier.  Why? Because every year I transition from winter to spring with a entire list of shit that was supposed to be done, that ain’t done.

I fall behind on new bed preparation, seed starting, plant layout planting and other projects.  I mean just think about seed starting, this should begin for many crops a full 8-10 weeks before they are to be set out.  Cole crops like Broccoli and Kale can be planted well before the last frost as well.

Other in the ground starters like peas for instance can generally handle down to about 28-30 degree over night lows, so we need to be ready to plant them very early and success them into summer crops like tomatoes and peppers.

And this is the time to START planning, at least get down on an organized list what you want to do.  Because yes, it is the holidays, there will be shopping, travel, etc. but the mind is alert right now.  Soon you will have what I call “Christmas Coma” where you sort of cost though the end of December and most of January.  It is a slow time for many of us, but also tends to become a time of inaction.  Hunting season ends, too damn cold for many things, no baby livestock to worry over yet, etc.

To break it what you need is momentum!  Otherwise next thing is it is March and you are over paying for Bonnie’s plants at Walmart because it is too late to start seeds for the year etc.

So how do you get momentum?  The plan is your momentum.  The hardest part of any process is what?  Getting started!  If you have that plan, that rough outline it becomes a to do list, you follow that in those slow weeks and by the time things pick up your are hitting the ground running.  However if you wait until mid January to plan, you put it off one week, then two, then it is February, the some life event happens, its March, got it yet?

Today we won’t talk so much about what to do but getting that plan in place to create scheduled action items so that when spring comes and the birds sing, your growing season is off to a great start.  And even if gardening isn’t your thing, there is a big lesson in that.

Join Me Today to Discuss…

• The lesson in taking a trip/vacation/etc.
• Why planning is important for spring planting
  • It works
  • Gives you actionable items
  • It is a sanity check
  • Allows you to sort critical from necessary from nice to have
  • Prevents mixing spring and winter prep items
• Some things I am planning for this year
  • Basic planting diagrams for all annual production
  • Massive wicking bed and aquatic expansion
  • Seed starting including a grow tent this year
  • Forage system for the quail aviary
  • New run of quail for production
  • Pastured chickens instead of new ducks this year
    • Brooder construction
    • Chicken tractor – build and complete dates, etc
    • Quantity – just for me or for others too?
    • Date to order
    • Date on pasture
    • Date of harvest
• Key Dates to Determine
  • Last frost and last hard freeze dates (not the same at all)
  • Dates to get your seeds started by
  • Construction start and end dates (planned and “drop dead”)
  • Planting dates
  • Fertilizer and amendment dates
  • Spaying of trees and perennial dates
• Keep a garden book
  • Weekly high and low avg temps, any frosts
  • Date of rain activity
  • In ground seed planting and first germination
  • Pest activity
  • Bud break on perennials
  • Flowering and first harvest of annuals
• Final Thoughts

Resources for today’s show…

• Join the Members Brigade
• Join Our Forum
• The Year 74
• Walking To Freedom
• TspAz.com
• The Granddaddy’s Gun Club
• Bullhead Fishing Forum – A new little site I started
• DASH School
• Upgraded Grow Light I am Considering
• Existing Economy Grow Lights I Love
• Grow Tent I am Considering
• Road to Nowhere – Ozzy Ozborne

Sponsors of the Day

• Western Botanicals
• Self Reliance Magazine

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