Since we’re in the thick of winter, unable to work outside, now is a good time to focus some to that frustrated gardener energy into dreaming and planning. Was I happy with my garden last year? What could I do differently? Do I want to grow more or should I concentrate on growing less? What do I want to grow this year? So many questions.

How about we start with, was I happy with my garden last year? For most of us, this is probably a mixed bag. Some of our plants thrived while others just never seemed to reach their stride, meaning they never quite looked like the pictures on the plant tag or the catalog.

If we’re honest, most of us purchase plants based on emotion. We see something pretty or interesting and think we want one of those in our landscape. There’s nothing wrong with this, but we can improve our success rate if we do a little research on the plant before bringing it home. Research can be as simple as reading the plant description on the tag or catalog.

We talked about growing zones Saturday, so this will help us determine if the plant we want will be an annual or a perennial in our growing zone. And if it’s going to be an annual, am I ok with that or should I keep looking for something that will come back each year?

If the plant that’s making your heart go pitter-patter is rated for our growing zone, then look at the growing conditions. How much sun does it need and what type of soil does it prefer?

Sun is a critical factor and can contribute to a lot of gardener disappointment if we don’t pay attention. If the plant says it needs full sun, for it to grow as you hope, it will do best in full sun. This is especially true for most blooming flowers. Yes, you can plant them in a spot that doesn’t get full sun, but just know that they probably won’t ever look like they does in the promotional information. Same is true for a plant that says it needs shade. If it gets planted in full sun, it’s going to struggle, and you will likely be disappointed.

This advice goes for soil type as well. If the plant says that it does best in well-drained soil, it means that wet, soggy roots will likely be its downfall if you bring it home and plant it in soil with a high clay content. Clay in garden soil helps retain moisture. An appropriate amount of clay in your soil is great because this will help the soil retain moisture for your plants. However, with a high amount of clay in your soil, your soil will not drain well, and the wet soil will contribute to root rot. So, look at the soil recommendation and pay attention.

If you still want that plant in your landscape, you can amend your soil with compost or manure to help reduce the percentage of clay, or you could just put that plant and others like it in containers. Containers with good garden soil, drain well and will provide a good home for these plants. Just make sure there is a drain hole in the bottom of your container.

Sometimes the solution to a sketchy year in the garden is to actually grow less. I know we want all the plants, all the time, but maybe we just don’t have time to devote to all the plants, but we do have enough time to take care of a few less plants. If time is an issue for you, try looking at native perennial plants. These plants are from around here and are used to having to fend for themselves in tough conditions. Those wildflowers you see when driving down a country road seem to do just fine so maybe look into adding native perennials to your garden if they are going to be on their own most of the time.

If your primary interest is in growing vegetables, and haven’t been someone who rotates your crops, this would be a good time to read up on crop rotation. Here’s why.

If we plant our tomatoes in the same place in our garden each year, we are asking for trouble in the long term. The reason for this is that certain plants have certain diseases and if we plant them in the same spot each year, those pathogens can build up to the level where they can become problematic. So, plan on rotating those crops at least every 3 years. To rotate effectively, you need to be aware of plant families, here’s why.

Let’s say we are growing tomatoes, potatoes, squash, and cucumbers. If we were to just swap the tomatoes and the potatoes growing locations, this wouldn’t be helpful since potatoes and tomatoes are in the same family. This would also be true if we were to swap the squash and the cucumbers. Once again, those two are in the same family, so we wouldn’t be accomplishing anything. You can learn more about vegetable families on our website. Just go to www.tulsamastergardeners.org, click on the Lawn and Garden Help button, and then click on Vegetables. You’ll find a link there that will explain vegetable families.

Bottom line, this cold will pass, and gardening season will soon be upon us. Let’s spend this time dreaming and planning so we can have our best garden ever in 2024. The Tulsa Master Gardeners are here to help. See you in the garden.

You can get answers to all your gardening questions by calling the Tulsa Master Gardeners Help Line at 918-746-3701, dropping by our Diagnostic Center at 4116 E. 15th Street, or by emailing us at mg@tulsamastergardeners.org. Photo OSU Ag. Comm.