When you’re in the mood for a little Spring – Spring planting of course not Spring cleaning! Then, now is the time to plan and plant that Victory Garden.
I have been fortunate to have stepped foot in all 50 states and to have lived in 3 countries. I’m often asked where the prettiest place I’ve been to is. Hands down and with no hesitation is Germany.
We spent 2 years living in Germany. It was the first time I realized that an entire community could be amazingly beautiful. We lived near Kitzingen, in Bavaria, Germany, and everywhere we went was sparkling clean with flowers spilling out of window boxes, herbs in containers on porches, even rose gardens in the children’s playground (seems dangerous but I never saw children bleeding from being shredded by thorns). It seems very ironic that the place that inspired me to start my Victory Garden was in the actual country that the US fought against that made the need for the Victory Gardens in WWI and WWII. Victory Gardens are also known as “Liberty Gardens” and “War Gardens” (See Germany Cemetery Backstory)
So, planning…there are two easy ways to start planning and planting your Victory Garden. Both styles have their pros and cons.
1. Surprise me plan/planter (Jump in and plant something)
2. Have a plan (organized and methodical)
Either method can reap a bountiful harvest and give you the satisfaction of food on the table. I love knowing the food I grow is safe because:
1. No recalls because I wash my hands (Hepatitis A comes from not washing your hands after you go to the bathroom).
2. I amend my soil so the nutrition content is high (composting is the ultimate upcycle).
3. It tastes wonderful because it’s grown with sunshine and love.
4. I can grow without chemicals or GMOs which can have unwanted side-effects.
SURPRISE ME PLANTER
I am more of a spontaneous planter than a planner. This is a great quality for someone who likes stay-cations but when I’m impulsive in my garden the results are sometimes strange and bizarre.
For those eager to get started and don’t mind whimsy you have 3 steps:
STEP 1: Start with what you really enjoy eating.
STEP 2: Figure out what zone you’re living in.
STEP 3: Find the plant or seed, plant it, and wait for the miracle to blossom. This step is the least spontaneous. You need to decide if you are doing a raised bed, in ground or container. Containers are a great choice because they can be moved indoors if it gets too cold and are easy to harden off and transplant if they outgrow the container. Container plants can also be moved to get the best light. (Having the right soil is important-but that’s a different post). Containers do not have to be a plain pot. Some of my favorite containers and raised bed have been repurposed. I have a raised bed made out of a fire pit ring and one that is typically an animal water trough.
One of my friends repurposed a dresser drawer and used it as a raised bed.
TA-DA! Victory Garden
I live in zone 8a and can plant in the ground late March without much concern about freezing overnight temperatures.
My daughter, Haley, lives in Wyoming – zone 5. It snowed at her house on Easter. My grandchildren were in snow boots and heavy coats hunting for Easter eggs like buried treasures!
Needless to say, our planting and gardens look very different.
My Victory Garden:
- Tomato (a small type of cherry tomato- I can’t remember the name)
- Cucumbers
- Zucchini
- Beans
- Cilantro
- Oregano
- Spinach
- Lavender
- Swiss Chard (fighting rabbits)
- Potatoes
- Sweet Potatoes
- Grapes
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Strawberries (only leaves –rabbits won)
- Various flowers (marigold, lavender, hyssop, blanket flower, milk weed)
- Onions (I actually don’t like onions. See backstory for the mess I have)
My Oldest Daughter’s Victory Garden
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Cantaloupe
- Basil
- Blueberries
- Wild flowers
- Jalapeno
- Lettuce mix
Haley has a lot of sprouts to share – she didn’t realize how many plants come out of a little packet of seeds. I’m trying to convince her to start a neighborhood garden to share her bounty. She’s in Cheyenne, WY, and people are so nice there that she’d have plenty of volunteers.
My Middle Daughter’s Victory Garden
- Morning Glories
- Pansies
- Marigolds (trying anyway)
- Beans (Bush beans)
Laney (Middle Daughter) is using my old school florescent lights that are under my top cabinet as grow lights. They are working great! She’s moving out in a few weeks (back to college) and she wants to have her own Victory Garden.
One of the draw backs to this unplanned method is, as things grow, I often have to move plants around to allow more room or more sun and even sometimes less sun – the shade of a tomato plant is a glorious thing!
FOR THE PLANNERS
If a Victory Garden surprise is not your style, I have something that would suit you better.
For the planners, I have an awesome and comprehensive tool that my friend, and fellow blogger P.K., who writes www.growmuse.com has created (Muse means inspired so be sure to check out her inspired growing ideas and DIY crafts).
If you want your Victory Garden to ensure you maximize space then grab a copy of this free vegetable garden planner template to plan your garden today. It’s pre-loaded with 21 crops that will help with spacing, planting dates and staying on track for an abundance of crops. The video gives a quick walk-thru on how to use the planner.
2 Planning Methods:
Surprise Garden- great to jump in and get started; sometimes things don’t grow well once they get bigger and may not effectively use your space
Planner Garden- great to effectively use space and keep up with planting date; takes longer to get started and some might get bogged down in the details
THE HYBRID PLANTER
I don’t think the majority of people are strictly either a Surprise Me Planter or a Planner Planter. I feel most are a hybrid of both. There’s no right or wrong way to plant (IF you are growing for enjoyment-commercial growing is a different beast). What’s important is to slow down a few minutes each day and nurture yourself in the garden. Take a moment to enjoy the triumphs and sometimes lessons learned with your Victory Garden. Mix a little surprise with your planning and enjoy the Spring that COVID-19 has not been able to post-pone!
P.S. Don’t forget to check out Victory Garden Gal on FB – we love talking to our fellow Victory Gardeners!
Happy Growing!
DeeAnn
Victory Garden Gal