Imbolc: Midwinter Garden Planning
Imbolc or the halfway point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, typically occurring the 1st or 2nd of February, is traditionally considered a good time to start planning your zone 8 vegetable garden for the next season. After weeks or even months of sitting back while your beds are dormant, you may feel unmotivated or overwhelmed by the processes of getting momentum going again. There's a lot you can do to start the prepping process but we've broken it down to only the most essential steps. The rest can wait!
Reflect on the successes and failures of last year. Get out a piece of paper and write down all the veggies and herbs you planted last year that did well. On a different section of the paper, jot down anything you planted last year that didn't do well. Did your carrots amount to little more than nubs? Did you regret planting that much zucchini? Make a note next to the failures of the cause of the problem if you know it. If you don't circle it and do some research or ask you gardener what might have caused the issue.
Create your garden wishlist. On a fresh sheet of paper write a list of everything you want in your garden this year, starting with last years successes and any failures from last year you want to try again. Then, check out a planting timeline of veggies that grow in zone 8 (try this one by Deep Harvest Farm) and jot down anything you else see on the list that you want to try grow this year. If your list exceeds the size of your current beds, consider whether you have the budget/space to add more beds this year or if you should pair down your seed list.
Order your seeds. Take your garden wishlist and hop online. You can also go to a nursery in person if you prefer but we enjoy the unlimited options of online shopping paired with the ability to research in the next browser over and take as much time as you need. We recommend ordering organic heirloom seeds when possible, not only do heirloom seeds produce sturdy and unique varieties, you'll also be contributing to increasing biodiversity in your neighborhood.
High Mowing Seeds - industry leaders, all organic and non gmo, free shipping orders over $50
Adaptive Seeds - PNW based with open pollinated, organic seeds adapted to our northern climate
Seed Savers Exchange - Nonprofit with both heirloom organic seeds for sale and seed exchange open for trading seeds
Make a planting calendar. Create a new calendar in your phone just for planting, that way you can hide it if your calendar is already cluttered. Referring back to the planting timeline chart, mark in your calendar the general time line for planting each seed, including any notes on variability such as "two weeks after last frost."
Get your hands dirty. Doing one thing outside will break the spell of separation that may have set in over the winter. Choose just one of the following (or do multiple, but it's key to keep this fun and not overwhelm yourself)
Get your gardening shed or tool area organized. Clean your tools, gloves, check for rust, broken handles etc, and take notes on any tools you want to add or replace before the spring.
Lay down mulch/compost in your garden beds
If you are already one of our clients, feel free to finish the exercise by scheduling us to come mulch for you! If you’re more of a garden dreamer than a garden worker and planting seeds by hand isn’t your thing, you can also send us your garden wishlist and we can pick up seedlings and sprouts (already established baby plants) and plant them for you when the time is right!
Additional Resources/Reading
Imbolc First Signs of Spring - High Mowing Seeds
February Gardening To-Do List - the Spruce
The Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Pacific Northwest
Imbolc, Spiraling Along A Path of Peace and Beauty into Springtime - Patricia DeMarco
