Organic Mint Plant for the Garden
- I Claimed I Killed Plants: I laugh to think of myself saying this once upon a time. I thought I was bad at caring for plants. The real “problem” was that I just did not know what I was doing in the garden. Once I learned about soil preparation, raised garden beds, and how to treat various plants, I was well on my way to success with my goal of becoming an urban organic gardener.
- I Didn’t Watch the Weather: When I first started my perennial and vegetable gardends, I loved my garden and loved tending the seedlings and plants. To tend them, I would water and water. Sometimes, it rained. This meant that the poor vegetable plants were getting way too much water. I did not kill anything (thank goodness), but I waterlogged a bunch of plants until I started watching the weather and checking the soil if I was not sure about the moisture level.
- I Never Calculated How Much to Grow: This year, I took steps toward attempting to figure out how much I need to grow to feed my family. For instance, I planted about 36 heads of garlic last fall. They should be ready this July. I calculated that would give me enough for 12 months with a few to give as gifts. It’s good I did that, because we lost a good portion of the crop. For potatoes, I calculated how many we would want to eat over 12 months and bought enough to plant to fulfill that number. I still find it a challenge to calculate the proper number of lettuce plants (and other vegetables that don’t store well).
- I Did Not Plan:I would visit the garden center and buy whatever looked intriguing. I’m not knocking my previous approach completely, because exploring taught me a lot and kept me interested in gardening in the early years. Eventually, though, the time comes when it’s efficient and beneficial to you to plan ahead what you will plant and where you will plant it.
- I Did Not Test and Learn:When working to become good, it’s important to try new things. At Facebook, I think they say something like “Break Things and Move Fast.” The same applies to organic gardening. This year I tested a variety of approaches and noted them here for future reference.
- I Did Write Down Where I Planted Vegetables: This is especially important for potatoes, which should not be grown in the same place until four years have passed. I am wondering how I will be able to rotate beds since I am planting so many potatoes. Should I expand or plant fewer next year? Time and experience will give me the answer. In the meantime, I will definitely write down where I planted potatoes this year so I know not to use that bed for another four years.
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Perhaps for the potatoes just grow them in sacks next year. Then you do not have to worry as much about crop rotation. There are a number of tutorials online. I would like to know how you keep them all year. That’s impressive. I would think they would rot. For my garden I am starting to intensely intercrop. For example underneath all the tomatoes I am growing lettuce and garlic, swish chard, beets and basil. This way I really maximize what I get. I’ve also learned that I need to plant a TON more than I think I need to account for die off and just plain keeping up with having full plates of veggies.
That is a good point about growing potatoes in sacks. I was considering that approach and then I did not find sacks I liked. What did you end up using?
I do have raised beds. I imagine if I change enough of the soil, then it “counts” as a new bed. Maybe I’ll end up doing that.
You are right about planting way more than you think you need. It’s hard to go wrong with that approach. To answer your question about the potatoes, they can be stored in a cool, dark place. They used to do that in the old frontier days!
I started gardening last July: I convinced a friend to let me use a 5′ by 10′ space in her backyard. I am loving it and making mistakes left right and center. Last year we didn’t prepare the soil enough. It is pretty much solid clay here with a layer of sand on top. This year we spent a lot of time augmenting the soil, and are ready to add in more after our beets come up in a few weeks.
Also, although it was late in the season, we just planted stuff without figuring out what grows best at the time. There was a lot of wasted effort. We have gotten better, though, and other than planting an eggplant too early this year, our spring/summer fruits and veggies are going nuts.
It is a fun learning curve (except for the critters and varmints that keep eating our plants), and I am looking forward to working smarter in the future.
Hi Tammy,
When I first started, I did the same thing with not preparing the soil the right way. If you are having fun learning the process, then you’ll do just fine! You probably know that already. =-)
You show a photo of a mint. Well I was stupid enough to put mint in the ground! I have two different large areas where I have to wage hand to hand combat w/ it every so often. OTH, I have an endless supply of really good English mint and chocolate mint. I do love fresh herbs in my cooking. Have all the other better behaved herbs, although my Greek oregano is rather too vigorous also!
Hi Anne,
Oh, no! I was just talking with someone about mint. They said to be careful with it spreading. Although the mint I have sends out runners, I like it and am able to live with pop-up mint. Also, my mint doesn’t take over the garden, so it ends up not bother me.
I’m sorry it’s causing you such trouble though!
My Greek orgegano does the same thing. I decided to use is a good-smelling ground cover in the front garden. When I first replanted it, the poor thing looked droopy (in shock from the transplant, I guess) and then it eventually pepped up. Thanks for writing!