Bozbark
2020 Garden Prep
February 04, 2020
This year is a year of firsts in my garden expirence. 2019 was lacking in garden planting due to heavy amounts of pests, improper planning on my part, and lack of desire to have a successful garden. I intend to come at 2020 strong.
Propogating and Preserving Year After Year:
I went to Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds in Mansfield, MO this year to buy all my seeds. This is the first part of one of my new learning expirences: I want to be “seed self-sufficient”. My goal is to harvest enough seeds to replant all the same plants I planted this year. I am developing a system with a box that I use tabs to separate seed packets by plant type and mark the year that those seeds came from as well as naming seeds for easier identification. I have no expirences with saving seeds so there will definately be a learning curve.
Beginning Before Frost:
The second thing I am trying to learn this year is starting seed indoors. I purchased a grow light and 3” peat pots to start my seeds in. I already need another grow light to support the amount of seedlings that I intend to start indoors. A greenhouse might be something I look into in the future.
Determined to Eat Well:
I chose to research tons of veggies before I bought my seeds in an attempt to select things that will be long-lasting and useful items in the kitchen. My goal is to replace at least a noticable percentage of my food purchases by supplementing with food from the garden. I researched different recipies for foods that I am not used to eating in hopes that it will help me adjust to new items in my normal ingredient rotation. I also plan to start eating fruits and veggies that I have traditionally not enjoyed. There are dozens of ways to prepare food and this can drastically affect the falvor and texture of foods. I would like to find ones that I can tolerate or force myself to enjoy.
Ozark Permaculture:
When planting I want to grow plants in the same beds that will help each other. Examples of this is okra in the same bed as spinach - the okra shades the spinach in the summer months and keeps it from bolting essentially doubling the productivity of that particular bed.
Marking Tallys :
I am going to keep a production chart to keep a record of how many plants were put into the ground and how much that particular type of plant produced. This will allow me to hone in on particular sub-breeds of plants and really find ones that work for the Ozark Mountains. This will also help me keep an eye on the effect that each years weather had on that particular set of plants.
I have also created a comprehensive map of where each item will be planted in my raised garden as seen below:
I made a chart of every plant I intend to put in the ground and mapped out when they will need to be seeded indoors and when they will need to be transplanted outside:
| Veggies | Seed Indoors | Sow Seed/Plant | Sprout Time | Ideal Temps | Spacing | Seed Depth | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leek | March 1 | 2nd Week of April | 7 -14 days | 45-70 | 6in | 1/2in | Make 8in x 4in deep holes with a stick. Drop leek seedlings into holes. Fill holes with water. Do not cover holes with soil. Water will naturally cover roots over time. |
| Parsnips | Don’t | March 24 | 21-28 days | 50-75 | 6in | 1/4in | Require light fluffy soil. Plant as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Chard | March 24 | 2nd Week of April | 14-21 days | 50-75 | 8in | 1/2in | Can survive the winter to produce seeds the following summer |
| Lettuce | Don’t | 2nd Week of April | 7-10 days | 50-70 | 5in | 1/4in | Sow further apart for head of lettuce or close together for leafy greens |
| Spinach | Don’t | March 24 | 7 -14 days | 40-70 | 6in | 1/2in | Easy & tasty |
| Onion | Feburary 1 | Feburary 21 | 7-14 days | 45-80 | 6in | 1/4in | Onions can be started indoors in September for larger bulbs in spring. |
| Radish | Don’t | March 24 | 3-6 days | 50-75 | 2in | 1/4in | Sow every 7 days for continuous harvest in late spring. |
| Cabbage | March 1 | 2nd Week of April | 7-10 days | 50-75 | 3in | 1/4in | Likes the cold |
| Bok Choy | March 1 | 2nd Week of April | 10-14 days | 60-80 | 3in | 1/4in | Likes the cold |
| Carrots | Don’t | April 1 | 12-18 days | 50-75 | 2in | 1/4in | continue planting every three weeks until June. |
| Turnip | Don’t | April 1 | 4-7 days | 45-85 | 6in | 1/4in | Harvest roots in cool weather. Harvest greens anytime. |
| Cucumber | April 1 | May 1 | 7-14 days | 70-90 | 18in | 1/2in | Trellis to save space |
| Eggplant | Feburary 1 | May 1 | 10-15 days | 75-95 | 18in | 1/4in | Planting indoors is best. The larger the plant when transplanting the stronger it will be. |
| Long Bean | March 1 | May 1 | 7-14 days | 70-80 | 4in | 1/2in | Soak seeds overnight before planting. Direct sow reccommended. Pick frequently for best production. |
| Blackeye Pea | Don’t | June 1 | 7-14 days | 75-95 | 4in | 1/2in | Trellis to save space |
| Huckleberry | Feburary 1 | May 1 | 7-21 days | 75-85 | 18in | 1/8in | Plant in pots. Green berries are poisonous. Harvest only when black and soft. Don’t eat raw. Best in baked goods. |
| Okra | Don’t | 2nd Week of May | 7-14 days | 75-90 | 18in | 1in | Soak seeds in water for 24 hours before planting. |
| Watermelon | April 1 | May 1 | 5-10 days | 70-95 | 3ft | 1in | The vines are extremely tender. |
| Kale | Don’t | April 1 | 6-9 days | 45-85 | 8in | 1/4in | Likes frost, can last into winter if planted in fall |
| Sunflower | April 1 | May 1 | 7-14 days | 60-75 | 24in | 1/2in | Make sure to have enough space for 10’ tall stalks with foot wide heads |
| Bell Pepper | Feburary 1 | May 1 | 7-14 days | 70-95 | 14in | 1/4in | Takes forever to get fruit |
| Tomato | Feburary 1 | May 1 | 7-14 days | 70-95 | 14in | 1/4in | Basically a weed |
| Ground Cherry | Feburary 1 | May 1 | 7-14 days | 70-95 | 14in | 1/4in | Basically a weed |
| Tomatillo | Feburary 1 | May 1 | 7-14 days | 70-95 | 14in | 1/4in | Basically a weed |
| Luffa Gourd | March 1 | May 1 | 3-10 days | 75-90 | 18in | 1in | Soak seeds in water for 24 hours before planting. Like to climb |
| Peanut | March 1 | May 1 | 7-14 days | 70-90 | 8in | 1 1/2in | Ensure planted area is well weeded |
| Jalepeno Pepper | Feburary 1 | May 1 | 7-14 days | 70-95 | 14in | 1/4in | Takes forever to get fruit |
| Strawberries | Don’t | 2nd Week of March | 0 days | 60-75 | 12in | 0in | Must be well established in early spring |
| Pumpkins | Don’t | 2nd Week of June | 5-10 days | 70-95 | 4ft | 1in | Punkins like it warm |
| Sweet Potatoes | Feburary 1 | 2nd Week of May | 7-14 days | 70-95 | 12in | 6in | Ensure that there is NO risk of frost |
| Sunchokes | Don’t | 2nd Week of April | 15-20 days | 50-75 | 12in | 4in | Prone to spreading and will become a weed if not careful. Ensure to plant alone. |
An Ozarker writing about self-reliance, doing things that are meaningful, and staying connected to reality in a digital world.
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