Topic 4: Plan and plant a garden bed

What, where and when

Developing a planting calendar

Topic 4: Plan and plant a garden bed

The purposeThe purpose of having a planting calendar is to provide you with information which highlights what will grow in each month of the year in your locality.

Using this guide you can plan when to sow your seed or plant transplants to achieve an effective companion planting regime and a successional harvest for the entire year.

Topic 4: Plan and plant a garden bed

Single-purpose guidesYou can restrict it to one type of information like seed sowing or transplanting times.

Celery

S = plant in seed traysT = plant as transplants

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

                S S T T

Topic 4: Plan and plant a garden bed

Plant name Beneficial companions

Sowing dates

Months of the year in which the plant can be grown(by initial)

Harvest date

Time from planting till eating

Spacing

Based on size of plant at maturity

Notes

Plant observations, cultural hints or special points of interest

You must determine what information is important to you and the format that you would like to collect it in.

Multipurpose guides

Topic 4: Plan and plant a garden bed

ResourcesInformation for developing your calendar can be gleaned from websites such as those listed here:

• http://www.tuigarden.co.nz/sites/default/files/document/Tui_Planting_Calendar.pdf

• http://www.gardengrow.co.nz/

• http://www.palmers.co.nz/gardening_calendar/july.cfm

Note that the information provided is for broad areas, not specific locations.

Topic 4: Plan and plant a garden bed

Evaluating informationRemember to critically evaluate all information.

• Compare across websites to see if information matches.

• Ask at your local garden centre

• Talk to local garden experts

• Try different things and record the results.

Topic 4: Plan and plant a garden bed

Records information like…• Plant name• Best month for planting• Harvest time after planting• Propagation notes• Companions • Culinary information• Other uses

Check out http://www.gardenate.com/plant/Basil for a great example

Plant diary

Topic 4: Plan and plant a garden bed

Start small and add information as you gain experience.

“ Learn to be an observer in all seasons. Every single day, your garden has something new and wonderful to show you. (Author unknown)

“ Learn patience. Gardening is the slowest of the performing arts. (Author Unknown)

“ Love what you do, remember your garden is an extension of you. (Author unknown)

“ All gardens are a form of autobiography. (Robert Dash)

Final advice

Topic 4: Plan and plant a garden bed

May your planning result in a bounteous harvest.