With 2023 coming to an end I thought this would be a good time to reflect on my top garden takeaways I learned for the year. I can’t believe the year is over and it’s almost time to start seeds for 2024.
My 2023 goals were:
- Have better weed control
- Save as much seed as I could
- To grow 90% of the produce we consume for the year.
Weed Control: This year I tried a couple different methods for weed control with some success
This year I tried a couple of different methods for weed control with some success. The first I tried was something I have always done; mulching. I used grass clipping/hay/straw and it worked really well, especially in my raised beds. It also had the benefit of helping to keep the soil moist, making my irrigation way less frequent.
The Failure: Weed Tarp
Weed tarp is great, especially if you get the pro weed tarp. The failure comes 100% from user error. When I set up my beds in the new space, I did it completely wrong. I soon learned the direction of my beds not only did not let water drain correctly, It also caught the wind, which no matter what I put on the tarp would not stay down. With my garden redesign plan for 2024, I have completely changed the direction of the beds and will be reusing my weed tarp with hopefully a successful year.
Seed saving this year was minimal. I have almost used up all of my F1 hybrids, So 2024 will be a better year for this. I plan on finishing out the rest of my F1’s and then in 2025 I will be able to save everything I grow.
I know this is a huge goal to have. This year I hit about 65%. Our fruit trees are not producing yet so I purchased from a local orchard the majority of our fruit. I hit my yearly use of tomatoes and put up enough products to last a year. I thought I would have been higher, with the fall/overwinter plating I did but unfortunately, I have pet goats who are quite mischievous and got out of their area. They decided it would be a good idea to eat all of the lettuce, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts I planted. So that is how 2023 is ending, with happy well-fed goats.
2024 is looking to be a big year for me.
- My garden plan is pretty detailed and precise this year so goal #1 is to follow the garden plan.
- I want to hit my 90% goal this year. I really think if I stick to the garden plan and the weather is pretty good, I can hit this goal. I’m going to say 90% of vegetables because our fruit trees still won’t be producing.
- Grow more flowers. I want to grow way more flowers, especially around my house. I saved more than I can count of sunflower seeds and I plan on planting them along fence lines to help with weeds. I want to attract as many pollinators and butterflies as possible.
The biggest lesson I learned in 2023 is to really know your garden space and come up with a plan for it. When we expanded the space, I got a bit overwhelmed and didn’t plan very well. I ended up with lots of weeds, poor drainage, and less product than I should have gotten.
Take it from me, when starting a new space or even planting in an established space, take a little bit of time and plan out what you want to grow, how much of it you want, and really look at your space to see where the best place to plant the stuff you want would be.
I could go on and on about planning a garden because of how important the planning prep is but I’ll stop there so it’s not a million words long.
Here’s to having a successful 2024! Have a wonderful New Year’s!
