Go BIG or Go Home

Go big or go home. This is one of my favorite phases pertaining to life, however garden big or go home- not so inspiring because planting and tending to a garden can be quite overwhelming.

The best phase for gardening is go small or take a fall.

I, like most gardeners, see so many different varieties of plants, and go a little crazy. Each year I make a promise to myself to only plant five tomato plants. Each year I break my own promise. Then I end up with twenty tomato plants or more, and no time to tend them. My plants suffer. The weeds begin to grow at a rate that I can't keep up with.

Five plants are all I need and will keep delicious tomato sandwiches in my tummy all summer long and well into the fall.

As an added bonus to planting lighter- you won't have to buy as much fertilizer, potting soil, and you will use less water. The savings really can add up.

I am not just picking on tomatoes. I am also guilty of planting too many eggplants, too much lettuce, the list goes on and on.

Plant a little, often. South Carolina, especially the midlands, have a long growing season. You can plant most of your winter crops from September (if it's not too hot) until early February. Most summer crops can be planted from late April until July.

So plant something each month. As you harvest the lettuce, plant more. When your tomato plants start looking sad and played out, root some cuttings, and replant. (In June and July you will not be able to find any plant starters, so you will have to root them your self.)

So go small this year, and don't fall. Gardening should be fun, not exhausting work. Planting year round will also bring something new into the garden, each month, AND you will have fresh non contaminated veggies right outside your doorstep. Romaine lettuce anyone?

Let's get growing South Carolina.

We will be posting our class schedule soon, complete with Crazy Chic Heritage Farm's Tour Dates.