Digging In

Take Lots of Notes

TIP

With so many variables in the garden, don't expect everything to run precisely like clockwork from one year to the next.

Take Lots of Notes

This is one tip you'll want to start on right from the beginning, even if you don't feel like you have any idea what you're doing yet. Keep track of everything you do so you can refer back to it in future years.

The main things to record are:

• Dates you plant and harvest

• Any unusual weather

• When you added fertilizer or pesticide

• Which sprays did or did not work

But it's the planting dates you want to remember most of all. Focus on that to start with. If you plant your spring peas too late, then they won't be done in time to plant that patch with more summer vegetables. If you get your peppers started too late, they may not be ready to harvest before that first frost. What works (or doesn't work) for you one year can help guide you the next.

Keep track of harvesting too.

Knowing when that big rush of green beans is about to start can be a good heads-up to get your kitchen ready for a big canning session.

Take note of the elements.

Knowing that you have to be ready with the insect sprays by the second week of June in order to protect your tomatoes will keep you on track and your precious plants protected. The same goes for unseasonal weather — extra rain, for example. Expect the unexpected.

Get a spiral notebook or start a simple computer spreadsheet. How you organize your notes is up to you as long as you do it, but keep them consistent. Paper notebooks are a little sturdier and can be stored out in the garden shed where you're more likely to make notes. Pencil won't run in case your notes get wet, which is a pretty good probability at some point. On the other hand, a digital file can make it easier to go searching for something in several years' worth of text and dates.

Know Your Zone

If you don't already know it, you need to find out what growing zone you're in. That single piece of information will be key in figuring out what plants will grow well based on your local climate. People can make a lot of inaccurate assumptions about what will grow in their area and that can mean you miss out on all kinds of delicious fresh produce.

The zones start in the cold north, and the numbers increase as you move southward. Technically, the scale runs from 1 to 20, but most people will find themselves between 4 and 10. The zone designations tend to create bands as you move north to south, but being on the coast or near other features like lakes or mountains will affect your zone.

Once you know your zone, look for it on the seeds you buy to see what will grow for you. Labelling tends to be a certain zone "and up" because plants usually have a cold tolerance level you can't drop below, but the upper heat tolerance is not as important.

Check out some seeds you may not have thought suitable for your area, you might be surprised. Even within one family of plants, there can be variations that are better for one zone over another. Cool-weather varieties may exist that can broaden your choices. Knowing your zone is the first step.

You can take a few chances too. A plant that is fine for Zone 5 and up may still work in your Zone 4 home if you take a little extra care with plant covers and extra mulch layers. But hoping that a tropical Zone 7 will thrive in the cold is not too realistic.

Know Your Zone

TIP

You can find graphic zone maps around on the Internet, but the USDA website is a good place to start

Watch Your Frost Dates

TIP

Oddly enough, some plants get better after a light frost. Kale will get sweeter if the leaves get a frosting before you harvest, for example.

Watch Your Frost Dates

Unless you are enjoying life in a tropical paradise, most people have to watch out for the frosts of winter every year. For many plants, frost is a killer and you should be planning out your entire season around the 2 frost dates. The dates are based on historical averages, so don't consider them 100% guaranteed by any means.

First, there is the date of last frost in the spring. Many folks consider this the starting point for the growing season even though many plants can be planted (or started indoors) before this date. Once the threat of frost is passed, anything can be planted outside safely.

Then you have your first frost date in late fall, roughly marking the end of your growing season. You should keep a close eye on this one, but it's the immediate forecast that matters. If you have some end-of-the-season plants still out in the garden, and they're calling for freezing temperatures, then you'll want to get things picked and harvested right away. On the other hand, if the date has arrived and the forecast is still warm and balmy, just enjoy it and let your plants have a few more days to grow.

If you have vulnerable plants out there and an unexpected frost is predicted, don't despair. A light covering of cloth or plastic can do wonders in protecting your plants if you don't have time to get out there and pick. Also, a frost can be followed by a week or more of frost-free weather. It would be a shame to yank all your plants before necessary.

You can find out your local frost dates by checking with the extension office for your area, or finding a website online with maps.

Why is frost such a problem? Once the temperature drops below freezing at night, the water will freeze in the tissues of your plants. Ice crystals form which then burst the little plant cells, causing all kinds of damage. Some plants can withstand a little frost, some...