Can you believe it?   The first day of spring is just eight weeks from today.¹  Are you ready?

Of course spring arrives whether we’re ready or not, but if you’re planning a garden it’s nice to be prepared. If you’ve been gardening for a while, you’ll have learned plenty of lessons from past seasons. I sure have. In my experience, no two years are alike.  Once you’ve sorted out soil, amendments and irrigation, you can start planning the fun stuff.

Cosmos

A garden can encompass an acre plot or a few pots in a sunny corner of a patio or deck.  I’ve figured out ways to garden most of my life, regardless of circumstance. I once planted corn in a skinny strip of dirt next to an otherwise barren lot in a rented house.  I’ve grown herbs in a sheltered porch.  Many years ago, single and renting a small space, my mom gave me a hundred dollars for my birthday.  I used it to buy several bags of soil and some seeds and created a flower garden outside my front door. My neighbors enjoyed it too. The best gardens are shared.

Sunflower

A sunny kitchen window or a humid bathroom counter are great indoor garden spots. You needn’t have a lot of money to start your own. Ask friends for seeds and cuttings.  Many plants need dividing every few years.  Ask your friends if you can help them divide plants, then take home some of the splits. It’s another opportunity to bring plants into your domain.  Check out Freecyle in your community, and post wanted ads for old tools, pots, and the like.  My neighbor planted tomatoes in an old cat litter container. Let your imagination be your guide.

Are you planning a garden this year?  What will you grow?

Tomato and Basil

¹I’m writing from the Northern Hemisphere.  If you live south of the equator, of course, fall days are just around the corner.