From the Ground Up: Plan your fantasy garden, then get real

It's the season of seed catalogs. I anticipate these catalogs full of beautiful pictures promising garden success. They seduce me with colorful blooms and delicious vegetables that sound perfect for my yard ... and easy to grow. This is true, to some extent, but there are several things to keep in mind when ordering seeds for the growing season.

SIZE

Unless you have a large garden you might not have enough space to accommodate everything you want to grow. Start with a wish list, placing your favorites on top. Then set your list aside for several days and review it again. Prioritize what you can grow and what your fantasy garden grows. Choose plants that work for you and your environment.

Zone

If you only plant annuals, then the sky is the limit, since annuals are grown for one season only. If you are planning for long-term perennials, shrubs and landscape, make sure they are Zone hardy. The USDA Agriculture Zone map places the state of Iowa varying between Zone 4 and Zone 5 hardiness for Iowa. Here in Eastern Iowa we are closer to Zone 4, unless you have a very protected spot in your yard or garden.

Light

Light is very important for seeds and plants. Read your descriptions. Full sun means six to eight hours of full sun each day. Partial sun is four to six hours per day. If plants don't receive proper sunlight, they won't bloom, won't be as vigorous or produce fruit. They also become more stressed and susceptible to disease and pests.

Take note of growing season requirements. We have a moderate growing season in Iowa, so choose varieties that will grow and produce vegetables or blooms in a typical growing season. Most seed packets and transplant descriptions provide information about number of days from planting to harvest. One way to extend the growing season is to start seeds early indoors and plant as transplants outdoors in the spring; in fact, some plants prefer that.

When choosing plants, consider full grown size of plants. Make sure you have the space required for each plant. Small seedlings can grow into huge plants in a season. Take note of the 'adult” space that your plants will command at full width and height. Plants that are placed too close together invite disease and pests. If your focus is blooming flowers instead of veggies, consider color combinations and height of plants.

Each year my plant wish list starts with hundreds of plants from the catalog descriptions, but I eventually narrow it down to a final list of plants that will actually grow in my conditions. But just for fun I always pick one new or wild and spectacular thing to see if it might just grow.

l For gardening questions, call the Linn County Extension Master Gardener Hortline at (319) 447-0647.