In the case of home gardens, planning may not guarantee a more fruitful plot, but it will surely make the process run smoothly with less pests and errors.
Susan Hyland, Master Gardener coordinator for the county's Penn State Cooperative Extension, said anyone considering home gardening should first create a garden layout, choosing the location, the type of garden and the fruit and vegetables to plant.
"Planning will keep you from making errors that can lead to much disappointment and low production," Hyland said, adding that improper planning can "invite a pest and disease problem" if vegetables are planted too close together.
Planning begins with knowing what you want to plant, Hyland said.
"Decide what you're going to eat, what your family is going to eat," Hyland said.
A North Carolina State University extension horticulturist, Larry Bass, warned that it is easy to bite off more than you can chew as a first-time gardener, and suggests that the typical family need only a 25-square-foot plot for a home garden.
"This is a great time to (pick a spot for a garden) because there are no leaves on the trees, so you can see where the sun is at 8 o'clock in the morning or in the afternoon," Hyland said.
Hyland said it is essential to consider the space required by each plant and what plants "play well with others."
"Some plants just don't do well next to each other," Hyland said.
Incompatible plants placed near each other tend to produce less and often have more disease and insect problems. Some examples include cabbage and tomatoes; beans or peas and onions; potatoes and tomatoes or squash; and peppers and fennel.
Beginning a home garden with a proper plan will also make it easier to keep records to pinpoint success and failure and prepare each successive season's rotation of crops.
"If you at least keep a running record by date or write it on a calendar, you can better plan. In your second year and beyond, crop rotation is essential so that plants can get the required nutrients and to avoid soil-born diseases," Hyland said.
Proper planning can also make the home garden easier to maintain.
"You can make sure you have easy access to water, it's easier to maintain and groom and, of course, pick your fruits to enjoy," Hyland said.
Hyland said cooperative extension staff and other master gardeners can assist those interested in starting a home garden with planning and record keeping. Also, there are many resources available online, although Hyland said sources that end in .gov, .edu or .org are often better than those ending in .com.
"These sites are organizations, government institutions or education institutions, and we hope, we assume, the information is balanced. If you go to a commercial site, they want to sell you something, so they will be
The best place for resources for those new to home gardening, Hyland said, may be the local library.
"Because a lot of people who get into home gardening are looking not to spend money, go to the library. Crop rotation, guides for vegetable gardening, these are as old as man himself. It's all there," Hyland said.
Finally, Hyland said plan for the unexpected guest.
"Plant what you think you'll eat, then plant one more plant in the ground for the rabbits and the deer," Hyland said.
INFOBOX
Susan Hyland, the county's Penn State Cooperative Extension master gardener coordinator, said those planning a home garden should have the following when starting the process:
- Some information on gardening
- Seed packet or information on plant requirements such as light, water, soil depth and spacing
- Graph paper and a pencil
- Calendar with big boxes you can write planting times, varieties and the outcome of that plant
- Measuring tape to find dimensions of planting area
- Compass if you don't know the cardinal directions of your property
- Sun gauge or time to watch the proposed garden area for a few days to determine how much sun falls in that area each day
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