Hello World! Welcome Friends! What’s the ultimate dream of every gardener? Bountiful harvests that last all year long, of course! From the moment you start planting in your garden for the first time, you probably imagined it producing an abundant and continuous supply of fresh produce. You might have seen yourself loading baskets filled with carrots, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, and more!
While these dreams aren’t too far-fetched, gardening isn’t as easy and simple as it seems. Many gardeners who enjoyed lots of harvest at once soon realized that the joy doesn’t last long, and they end up not getting a single produce the following season.
Experienced gardeners, however, know all too well that year-round harvests are very much possible with some strategies. Here are some best-kept secrets to help you get started.
1. Invest In a Greenhouse
Whether you’re a newbie in gardening or an experienced gardener, one of the secrets to year-round harvests is investing in a greenhouse. It offers a controlled environment that enables plants to thrive regardless of the season.
However, with the countless types of greenhouses available in the market, choosing the right one for your needs can be confusing. And so, when deciding on a greenhouse, research and compare the options wisely.
2. Fill That ‘Hungry Gap’
The ‘hungry gap’ refers to the period when the last season’s crops are over and before the current season’s produce is ready. You can avoid this with careful planning. For example, you can plant late-season leeks, cabbage, and broccoli during summer, lasting through winter. On the other hand, perennial crops such as rhubarb and asparagus can make you enjoy some spring harvest.
3. Give Your Growing Season An Extension
Whether you’re building a mini farm or a sustainable garden, give your growing season an extension. To do this, look for sheltered walls facing the sun that mimic a warmer microclimate where you can grow tender crops like peppers and tomatoes longer. You can give your crops additional shelter and warmth with the help of cold frames, tunnels, and row covers.
4. Prepare a Garden Chart
It’s easy to get confused when tracking your plants and the best season or time to plant them. To save yourself from confusion, you can make a garden calendar with charts broken down into the different months of the year. Proceed to research the best plants for each period.
Another option is to prepare a chart that specifies the things you can do in your garden by month instead of just listing the plants alone. For instance, one row of your chart may be dedicated to planting, another for the ideal harvest time, and another for maintenance.
One more option is to create columns where you will indicate the plants, the frequency of watering them, and the ideal time to harvest.
5. Start Early
Not all vegetables grow fast, and some of them may take time. Sowing under cover is one of the best tips to enjoy early harvests. The key here is to protect your crops using a sunny windowsill, greenhouse, tunnel, or cold frame. You can also try growing seedlings that can start indoors using grow lights. You can move these to a sheltered outdoor location after one to two months.
6. Determine What and When to Plant
The good news is that any time is considered the best time to determine the right plants to grow for the upcoming season. However, you should consider when and what to plant, as it may vary depending on location.
Remember that you can grow different vegetables during different seasons in various climates. You can ask your area’s gardening center, organization, or club to determine the best crops to grow and cultivate in your region.
What matters here is to plant throughout the year to ensure continuous harvests regardless of the month or season.
7. Try Your Luck With Succession Planting
Some crops are often sown in two or more batches to ensure continuous harvests yearly. Seasoned gardeners, for instance, start with spring onions followed by maincrop onions. More frequent successive plantings will ensure you will always have enough harvest.
Planting lettuce in May will give you a good harvest when July comes. Sowing again in June will also let you enjoy fresh salads in August. This cycle continues throughout the year, so you won’t have to worry about running low on fresh produce.
8. Spread Your Harvests
Continue to sow quick-maturing plant varieties often and trim during the spring and summer months. Doing this will ensure that your harvests will have a steady succession all year. Pick a combination of varieties that cover early, and you can harvest during the mid and late seasons. It can maximize the length of time you can enjoy your produce.
Conclusion
A bit of experimentation here and there can make your gardening experience more fun and exciting. New crops mean you can always learn something new. With some trial and error, you can enjoy bountiful harvests all year round.
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