In 2017, the National Gardening Association reported that over a third of American households grew food at home or in a community garden. In 2020, this number must have undoubtedly grown as more people turned to the dirt to explore a new hobby and the self-sufficiency that comes with it.
As any deep-rooted gardener will tell you, the secret to gardening success lies in the planning. Sure, throwing a few seeds (or seedlings) into the ground with a bit of fertilizer, food, and water can work, but this method is also dependent on a lot of luck!
Why should you take some time to plan what you’ll plant? Consider:
You’ll get better results. No two plots of land are the same—they come in different shapes and sizes, not to mention with variations in sunlight, soil health, and watering or drainage needs. By knowing what plants will work best for your specific needs, you can better meet—and exceed—your gardening expectations!
Your plot will be easier to care for—and cost you less. Gardens give so much—food, satisfaction, beauty—but they can also be bottomless pits of time, work, and money. If you know what, where, and when you’re planting, you can better budget all of your resources and sidestep avoidable frustrations.
Your garden will look better. A garden space is a canvas. Like an artist, if you have some sense of what you’re hoping to create before you begin, you’re more likely to bring the vision in your head to life. And what gardener doesn’t want a space that’s beautiful, vibrant, and bountiful?
Have you tried our newly redesigned Garden Planner yet? With its smart, flexible design options; database of over 250 vegetables, herbs, fruit, and flowers; and personalized planting charts, it’s an easy way to achieve the garden of your dreams. Try it now with a 7-day free trial.
If you’re relatively new to gardening or just want to brush up on some basics, make your way over to our new, completely free Gardening for Everyone series, which offers step-by-step advice on how to plan, plant, grow, and care for a vegetable garden.
Its print edition won’t be in stores for a couple more weeks, but the digital edition of our Garden Guide was released this past week. Get a jump on exploring what’s inside the newest edition of this popular planting annual and download your copy now for just $4.99!
And don’t forget to howl at the Moon later this week! The Full Wolf Moon—named for the pack behavior of wolves at this time of year—will make its appearance on Thursday, January 28.
Finally, prepare yourself: Mercury retrograde begins this Saturday, January 30, and continues through Sunday, February 21. For astrology buffs, this time is often defined by miscommunication and chaos. You can avoid the worst of it by remaining flexible, patient, and understanding and allowing more time for all kinds of travel.
As sure as the Sun will rise and set each day, The Old Farmer’s Almanac is here for you, now and always.
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