Let's Start Planting

* THIS POST CONTAINS BOTH AFFILIATE AND PRODUCT LINKS,
​ALONG WITH LINKS TO THIRD PARTY WEBSITES AND VIDEOS MENTIONED IN THE POST.*

It's that time again, welcome to the 2024 Garden season. April is here and that means it's time to get started with this season garden plans. My hope is to "grow" from seeds to harvest to canning, freezing, and drying. I have set a pretty good goal of growing our largest selection of vegetables to date. The question is, what will grow? How much will I be able to harvest? And, what will I be able to store away for the rest of the year? But even more important, what am I planting?

Over the years, I've had some reasonable success with our gardens. But it's really been the last three years that I have seen the most success. Our 2021 and 2022 gardens might have been my most fruitful with plenty of cucumbers, pickles, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, celery, potatoes, green beans, and a few pumpkins. And let's not forget the herbs, sunflowers, potted plants, and flower beds. Between 2021 and 2022, I learned a lot.

---

---

But for all the success I had in 2021 and 2022, 2023 didn't go as well. I was really late in starting the seeds and getting the plants in the soil. Last summer saw a number of really hot days that I think left some of the young plant a little fried. While I still managed to produce a ton of tomatoes, I only saw a few peppers and a handful of butternut squash. As for cucumbers and pickles, something I have always had success with, I got nothing. Not a single cucumber or pickle plant took, leaving us with absolutely zero cucumbers or pickles. 

For as disappointing as that was, I am looking forward to the 2024 growing season. I'm going to take everything I've learned in 2021 and 2022, and apply that to this years garden. No doubt, this is going to be one of my most epic gardens, so let's get started!

---

---

As I begin to get ready for the 2024 season, I am planning for the biggest growing season thus far. My hope is to plant my biggest variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. I also hope to spread the garden out to better utilize the property and the prime locations for all-day sun. I also have to do a little fencing to keep the chickens and the unwanted rodents out of the garden beds.

2024 Planting Plan

So what am I hoping to plant in the garden this year? Let's take a look...

• Variety of Lettuces & Cabbages
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Brussel Sprouts
• Peppers
• Squash

• Variety of Tomatoes
• Green Beans
• Peas
• Pumpkins
• Beets
• Herbs
• Flowers

---

While this blog posts on Tuesday, April 2th, [2024], my first set of seeds were started on Monday, March 18th. I am using a growing zones chart to help with timing and scheduling. I want to learn how and when to start seeds and plant in the ground, all based on the growing zone where I live. I found the chart on UrbanFarmer.com. Along with growing zones charts the UrbanFarmer.com offers a ton of information, tips, and seeds. I haven't used their seeds yet, but their Learning resources are super helpful.

Take a few minutes and watch the vlog below.

click to watch more episodes

---

---

In our first round of seeds we started roma, yellow boy, beefsteak, and cherry tomatoes, beets, and broccoli. The pictures above show Day 1 to the 2 week mark. I'll keep them in the greenhouse for a few more weeks before repotting them.

Next week I will begin the next round of seeds. I will also begin turning the soil and getting the garden beds ready. Here in my growing zone, our last day frost should happen sometime around April 26th. That is according to the Farmer's Almanac. 

---

get your garden started

[ affiliate links ]

---

Be sure to follow along as we share all the ups and downs of this years planting season. I'll be sharing updates on our @LifeintheHighamHouse Instagram and our @LifeintheHighamHouse TikTok accounts all season long, so be sure to follow along! And don't forget to follow us on YouTube as we post our Just Ducky Backyard Farm vlogs all summer long!

​See you next time!

---