Logistics of Fresh Fruit

Prepare Your Garden Early (Advanced)

 Hey you green scientist. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Let’s quickly get though some planning considerations of multiple cycles for multiple harvest.

 I live in Michigan, my thought process the first time around was never getting ready for summer in February as I looked at the snow on the ground. It was planting when the weather was warm enough and that all I thought about.

There are a few types of gardens, commercial and the homestead farmer. None of the process changes except for the tools each uses to get to harvest.

The patterns of growing are simply knowing the life cycles of each plant. When is the last day of frost in your area? What temperatures will harm my plant (high and low)? Before you plant anything in the ground or transplant, a little more information is needed to plan accordingly.

You have some seeds; you know how long the package says for growth…but did you know most packages (if any) do not include the germination; which usually takes about 21 days.

Besides the Ph, PPM, nutrients water and light cycles (other considerations) knowing the germination, vegetation, flower/bloom stages will give you an approximate number of days the plant will take to grow (from the plants package and adding the germination days).

 The time to grow for each plant should be printed on the package. With that number you can plan the space. Make sure to take good measurements and at the least have a good idea in your head about where each plant will go.

 One consideration is the sun; the shade and direct for each area in your garden. Your seed pack should say something like full sun, partial sun or the amount of hour of sunlight the plant needs.

Put all the aspects together for the plan. 

 If you’re planning for a farmer’s market or just a salad you want to get a common denominator…yes, like math. In this instance my onions take the longest to grow and my lettuce takes the least. The soonest I could crop the onions is July 21^st. You back date all the plants grow times from that date and all your plants will be ready at the same time.

 Knowing what you want to do is great. Recording the information for planning and projections on any scale can be a bit to handle if you get into the weeds. Do everything at your own pace.

 You could set reminders on your phone or computers calendar for reminders and/or keep a journal of projected dates throughout the season. Keep in mind that you can germinate while you wait for the other plants to mature. This way you will always have a full-size plant to replace the old plant.

 A few days to the left or right will not be critical to your schedule but try to keep to the plan. Knowing what to expect and when are a couple of things you can control when planting outside.

Harvest one plant and put another plant in its place. You can have a variety of plants whenever you want in your garden; if fact rotating crops is healthy for the soil. I plant pumpkins in the fall and use a “Last Crop” date on my schedule to know when I will have the space and when from other plants.

 It important to know what supplies you will need to complete the process. Make a list of initial and operational cost to give yourself a good picture of what everything will cost.

One more reminder

From the Ground Up --- Fat Vegan

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