Making the Most of Your Garden

For years I grew a garden, afraid to harvest too much too quickly. I didn’t want to use my produce quicker than it could grow, but then I found myself growing carrots and still buying them at the store. Sound familiar? Here’s a few ways I’ve learned to improve my garden’s productivity. 

Don’t worry too much about spacing. 

Sometimes I grow crops similar in height closer together than I should. As long as they have a similar growing period and height, one shouldn’t over crowd the other. This helps to reduce space for weeds and allows for extra rows of the good stuff.

Harvest! 

For many plants, the more we pick, the more they produce. Beans, peas, cucumbers, and zinnias are just a few examples. 

Don’t shy away from thinning. 

Though it seems counterintuitive to thin plants like carrots and beets, leaving seedlings growing too close to one another will most certainly leave you with less to eat. By pulling the smallest babies, you’ll make room for the healthiest plants.

Grow up. 

Use a sturdy trellis where you can. 

Snip Herbs before flowering. 

Many people make the mistake of taking a leaf here and there when usually, it’s best to trim from the longer stems, encouraging equal growth around the plant. For herbs like basil and peppermint, take the whole 4-leaf pattern with stem, and avoid letting your plant flower or go to seed.

Succession plant. 

Set a reminder for 2-3 weeks from sowing. Replanting short-term crops can keep them plentiful in your garden for the entire growing season. It’s alright to over-plant because aside from lettuce, everything can be frozen for future use or shared with a friend.

Don’t shy away from the cold. 

Even though I don’t use a fancy set up, a piece of plastic covering on extra cold nights will offer enough protection from early frost. Last year, I even planted things like peas and greens in the beginning of October. It was still warm enough for germination, and though I didn’t get any peas, we had delicious pea shoots and baby chard to enjoy with our breakfast of eggs in December, truly extending our garden season. 

Jacquelyn Toupin lives with her family in a heritage farm house that’s been in her family for several generations. You can follow them on YouTube @oldfarmnewfarm or on Instagram @raisinghay