2023 Lessons Learned

There is still some time in the growing season. Fall gardening is among us; however, there have been so many lessons learned this growing season. I thought I would share what I have learned thus far. I do have to say that some of these lessons are ones that are hard to avoid with each growing season.

What can I say about the 2023 growing season? There are several words that quickly come to mind. Delayed. Frustrating. Challenging. Slow. Dry. Regardless of moving into a new county, the actual growing season was a bit disappointing. There were so many challenges, but there were some shining moments along the way. Here are my lessons learned from this season:

Pre-season lessons

Starting on a good note. Using heat mats early in the season to start my seeds indoors was a great move on my part. I started the seeds in February. By the time the Master Gardeners Plant Sale came around, I had 471 plants to donate to the cause. I wish I had started a little earlier for some plants, so the plants were a lot bigger by May. Next year, I plan to start seeds much earlier. Although, Cat Grass seeds grew way too fast, so I learned to start those much later. On a good note, I planted the Cat Grass in my own yard and the birds loved them!

Although I did a great job with starting the seeds indoors, I should have started giving the seedlings fertilizer earlier. This probably would have helped the seedlings grow stronger and bigger. Granted, they were pretty good, but I did not give them fertilizer until the final weeks.

I should have repotted many of the seedlings into bigger pots much earlier. This would have also helped them grow bigger much earlier. Most of the little seedlings were rootbound, stunting growth and causing them to wilt, yellow or turn a little brown. Getting them into bigger pots earlier would have helped.

If you have saved seeds from the previous growing season, test the seeds earlier, so you can share with others. For me, gardening is an experiment, so I will plant saved seeds just to see if they will grow. However, if I am sharing with others, I would like to know 100% that the seeds will produce.

A lesson learned from my mother’s experience; you do not need to use every single seed in the packet. It is okay to just put one or two seeds per cell or per hole when starting seeds. The only time I use the entire packet of seeds is for leafy greens. I sprinkle them throughout a couple rows in a trench and lightly cover them.

Rough start to the season

Moving into a new place and starting over with the garden posted a challenge. I should have ordered raised beds earlier to get my personal plants into the soil faster. I planted into containers long before ordering raised beds. The plants did not do as well as if they were planted into a raised bed or into the ground. It took me way too much time to decide what type of raised bed I wanted for the new house.

I have future plans to plant directly into the ground. The biggest challenge is the extremely rocky ground. I do not have the appropriate equipment for the job. We did have a small tiller to at least get something going, but it broke. A friend gave us another tiller. I have yet to fire it up and just start busting up some ground, or at least try to. I still need to complete my garden plans and get things moving.

When moving into a new county, learn the rules. I had a few obstacles just getting a permit and variance for my “She Shed.” Know what the county expects for building structures. Also, learn the setbacks for your property to ensure building placement is not in violation of the county ordinances.

Safety lessons

Be careful when pulling weeds. It is a good idea to wear gloves and long sleeves shirts. There are long-sleeve shirts that are lightweight and breathable with UV protection. There are also sleeves to cover your arms specifically for gardening. I am the worst offender of not wearing long pants, but I have found this may be a good thing. Long pants prevent skin irritation from poisonous plants or from plants you never knew you would have an allergic reaction.

Stay well hydrated when working out in the sun. Sometimes water is not enough, especially for someone like me. I would keep Pedialyte or Hydrate with me in addition to water. For me, I eat or take something with potassium to keep me from getting nauseated and dizzy while working outdoors. I typically have a protein snack with me, as well.

Having the right tools when pulling weeds. As the saying goes, “work smarter, not harder.” Man handling weeds will cause the weed to just break off. Use the proper tools to get down to the root of the weed. I do not use sprays in the garden area, so having the right tools to assist me saves my hands.

Wear a hat to keep the sun off your face and your head. I have quite the collection of hats these days. It is necessary when working out in the sun for long periods of time. My husband puts a cool, damp cloth on the inside of his hat forehead area to keep cool.

Stay out of the area when someone is weed whacking. The weed whacker will send little rocks or other debris flying across the yard. I have been a good 25 feet away, and a rock would come flying at me. Stay out of the area, and especially keep the dogs away, too.

Speaking of dogs, keep the dogs inside the house on those super-hot days. My dogs go crazy when they cannot be with me in the yard or garden. If they must come outside, let them out for a short time. Your fur baby may hate not being by your side, but it is for their own good. Especially when there is no shaded area for them to rest under.

Lessons from garden maintenance

Weeds! I despise weeds. They are everywhere, and they are relentless these past couple years. To keep up with weeds, pull them out as soon as you see them. Do not let them grow and spread like crazy. This will only cause longer harder workdays to try to get rid of them from the garden.

Trim back overgrown plants. It is great to have plants finally grow, but you do not want them to get too out of control. Plants can take over the garden or walking space. It is okay to just cut them way back and thin them out. The plant will love you for it, and they will be able to grow even bigger. The energy is allowed to go to the best parts of the plant.

When you have a plant that multiples excessively, take the time to separate it. You can put the separate plants into new pots. This will allow the plant to breathe in a sense and allow for healthy growth. Also, you can share the separated plant babies with family and friends. Spread the love!

Dry Summer

This season has been very dry. Rain has been few and far between and the plants have noticeably suffered. Mainly due to my negligence. I am talking days without watering and prayed for rain that never came. When I do water, I water my garden at dusk. This is the best time for me, because I can get out there and give the garden a good watering. Could I discipline myself to go out early in the morning? Possibly. It is said that the best time to water is early in the morning. This allows the water to soak deeply into the soil with little water loss due to evaporation.

Because it has been dry, using drip lines could be a very good option. Without using a ton of water, the water is directed to the base of the plants. This is where they really need water the most. Plants need 1″ – 1 1/2″ of water. If you stick your finger into the soil to the first joint and it is dry, the plant needs water. How long to water using a drip line is dependent upon the emitter spacing and flow rate. Penn State Extension office has good information on determining how long to run drip lines. I am considering this option for the future as the garden gets bigger.