Winter Garden Prep: 5 Simple Steps to Getting Ahead

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Ready to think spring? I know I am here in the Midwest, we have had one of the snowiest winters in a while. I may love the snow but there is nothing quite like working in my garden. While we may still have a few months to spring there are a few simple steps you can take to get ahead in the garden!

1.Decide what to plant

If you are like me you always have so many ideas for the upcoming garden. I more than likely have found a new recipe for canning, a new way of doing things, etc. I always start with a big list of things I would like to plant. Then from there I decide how many of each plant I want and where I will put it in the garden. For me personally I have 4 large raised beds, 4 smaller beds, an open pumpkin patch and then miscellaneous planters throughout our property. When deciding where your plants will go make sure you consider their needs and what they will grow well with. 

2. Get a plan on when to start seeds

After I have organized what I am planting I go through and make a timeline of what seeds I need to start indoors and when I need to start them. Not all of my plants get started indoors so I like to get a plan together ahead of time and so I don’t lose track of time in the springtime. Tomatoes are one plant that I always start ahead of time in the very beginning. This always ensures me to have healthy strong plants come time to transfer outside. Green beans are one I always direct sow. There are many things you can do either with also, like pumpkins. So getting an idea of how much you are starting inside and what you have room for is always a good idea. 

3. Determine if you need to buy/order seeds and supplies

I always try to save as many seeds as I can from my previous year's harvest. However If I run into issues I always buy seeds from my local farm and garden store. There's also been times where I shift what I need and want a new variety. For example, one year I grew all pie pumpkins and saved the seeds. However when the next year rolled around I knew I wanted to grow jack o lanterns to carve for halloween so I needed to buy new seeds. You also will want to do a supply check, do you need any fertilizer, tools, etc. Getting these ahead of time can help greatly come time to open the garden and plant. 

4. Do any pruning 

Many fruit trees and bushes thrive when pruned correctly. This is something that will vary time wise from each plant. Some may be better to do in fall, ensure you do your research before pruning. However, always make sure your plant does not have any buds on it. If so it is too late into winter and the plant is already preparing for spring. This can occur if the end of winter is unusually warm. You will want to avoid pruning in summer as well.

5. Clean up garden beds

We all know we may miss some things in our fall clean up so getting ahead before planting season can be a game changer. Cleaning out any debris from winter storms is also helpful. Any old plants, branches, leaves, etc. will be important to remove. By doing this quick clean up you will be ready to go when it comes time to plant your seeds!

Gardening is one of my all time favorite homesteading things. However if you ask me during tomato harvest season, I may say otherwise. No matter what I do I always end up with all my tomatoes being ready at one time and being way more than I can handle. However, I always find it so rewarding at the end of the year looking at my shelves full of preserved fruits and veggies from the garden that will feed my family for winter. Taking these few simple steps during winter not only excites me even more for the upcoming season but also helps me have a stress free planting season. When I first started out I always found it so chaotic when I had no plan and 20 packets of seeds I wanted to plant in a messy garden in one day. It takes time to get into the swing of things but it always gets easier and easier every year. I have been gardening since I was 6 and even then I found it so rewarding when I was able to harvest whatever I grew that year. 

Let me know what you think and what your favorite things are to put in your garden year after year!