Planning and Prep: Get to know your Plants

The spring season is just around the corner. In 6 weeks, our shipping season is scheduled to begin to our warmest zones. That means we have got to have everything ready to go: plants well rooted, boxes ordered, and mentally be prepared to ‘rock and roll.’But, like you, we are also avid gardeners, and in addition to getting things ready to fill your garden, we are gearing up for our gardens. We learned to strategize using past successes and failures, advice and recommendations from others, as well as my own updated ‘wish list.’ Order early, as it seems that the later you wait, the more you have to compromise. Not anymore! You know what they say about the ‘early bird’Garden beds and containers are carefully planned on paper, using past notes (“planted too many tomatoes for my 4×6 bed” or “move cucumbers to another bed next season” or sadly “don’t try __ again, it doesn’t grow well here”). Additionally, think outside of the box (no pun intended) and consider what you want to create with these plants. You will be rewarded with more than you will ever use, and there is but so many folks in your life who want yet another bushel of your produces!  The list is endless, but I’ve gathered the recipes and am honestly planning ahead. Doing a lot of research you will learn that the DIY side of herbs, there is so much of what you are growing can be convert into batches of tinctures and salves! Common Comfrey is also referred to as ‘Knitbone’ as it is the plant’s high concentrations of Allantoin that helps reduce inflammation of sprains and broken bones. When mashed and heated into a poultice or applied as a salve, Comfrey can also make a wonderfully mild astringent great for ulcers and sores. The plant’s natural Allantoin levels also make it a great herb for after sun care. Just steep fresh comfrey into a tea for external use, by straining the leaves and letting it cool. You can then soak the sunburned areas in the cooled tea to help reduce pain and discomfort, and promote healthy skin regeneration.So, the only thing you need right now is to start dreaming and take a few baby steps to make your dreams come true. Buy an inexpensive notebook, start writing down a ‘wish list’ of what you want to grow (and make sure you know WHY you want to grow it), sketch out your beds or containers keeping in mind the MATURE size of what you are growing, and start ordering your plants now.