How to Declutter and Organize your Vegetable Garden this Spring

I know, I know - you think that maybe I’m taking it too far…but my work doesn’t stop in a kitchen or closet. Why not declutter, simplify and organize the garden too! Simplifying your garden can make your summer not only more enjoyable but more bountiful as well! I am far from a gardening pro, but using what we know about our goals and strategies for our minimizing clutter in our homes, we can make great strides in the dirt too :)

Goals

Before you start planting, it’s important to know your goals for the space. Throwing seeds in dirt will grow plants, but will you remember which is which? Will they be planted too close together or too far apart, wasting space that could be used more effectively?

Which veggies do you eat most? Do you, like me, tend to plant a ton of radishes each spring because they are so quick to grow and taste great too, only to be bored of them 2 weeks in? Perhaps also like me, you realize how fun growing onions can be so you increase your yield every year. Take a few minutes to think about what makes the most sense for you to grow this year, in this season of your life. If you only cook with cabbage once or twice a year, it probably makes more sense to grab a head at the store when you need one.

On top of planning what you are going to plant and how much, consider the kind of work you are willing to put into it this year. Just because something worked in the past doesn’t mean it will this time around. Our lives can be crazy one summer and chill the next. 2020 was my best gardening summer ever. We were also home every. single. day. This summer I am cutting down my garden variety by half. Same size garden but less variety should mean less work and less waste.

Space Available

If you don’t have one already, I recommend keeping a gardening journal. I don’t use a special book made for gardening notes (though they are certainly out there), but I do make sure to have one with graph paper. This helps me map out my plan visually, making sure that I have enough space for what I plan to grow. Say, for example, you want to grow 10 different crops. Depending on the size of your garden and how you plant things, you may realize that you don’t have enough space for it all. It’s better to know this before you invest in your seeds and seedlings.

Start by measuring your space and drawing it on the page. I draw mine using 1 square = 1 foot, but do what works for you. Find required spacing for everything on your list either on the seed packets or by simply Googling it. With a pencil, start sketching out your plan. Think of it as a game of Tetris and have fun!

Consider plant placement

Some veggies do better when planted next to a specific “companion plant”. For example, tomatoes and basil, carrots and onions, and strawberries and spinach all help each other grow to be the best they can be - in the garden and on our plates!

Is there an area of your garden that gets more direct sunlight than another? This is another factor to keep in mind when selecting the best space for your seedlings.

Maintenance

How much weeding are you willing to do? Which plants require more attention like thinning and pruning? Is there something you can do early in the season to make these things less of a hassle?

I have been using the no-till method for the last several years and it has drastically reduced the amount of time I spend weeding. If you aren’t familiar with this, check out Charles Dowding on YouTube. I’ve learned a lot of low stress, low maintenance tips from watching Charles! Laying down woodchips or straw in between crops can also allow for easier access to the plants and ensure better drainage.

Be flexible

Just like every person is different - so is every plant, every garden, and every season. Last summer was exceptionally rainy here in Vermont. I’m a huge fan of rain, but it was beyond excessive and drastically impacted my time in the garden. I let a lot of things go because I just didn’t have the bandwidth to work around the very limited sprinkles of time where we didn’t have rain or flooding. And that was okay! I still got veggies, albeit a very weedy and wild garden as well.

If your peas seem to be stunted or the gross tomato hornworms have decided to park their caravan in your Romas, just do the best you can with the time you have. It should be fun and feel good. Just like we do in our homes - if it doesn’t bring you joy then let it go.

Take notes!

It can be hard to remember things from the craziness of harvest to the renewing of spring, so when you can, write yourself notes in your garden journal. Notes I’ve written myself on the dirt-stained pages include: “more space for zucchini”, “thin cukes!” and “no more watermelon”. I thank myself every spring for these notes and you will too!

Celebrate!

We are not doing all this work without a celebration. Whether it be a family pumpkin harvest or a cherry tomato delivery to a friend, enjoy the fruits (and veggies) of your labor! Other ways you can celebrate a good harvest is to make some of your favorite summer dishes using vegetables straight from your yard, garnish a special drink with a slice of cucumber or a sprig of thyme, or even use a clipping or two of fresh rosemary and some string to decorate a hostess gift.

What is your favorite way to enjoy your time in the garden?

If you’d like to receive my super fun monthly newsletter the Neat & Greet, plus an editable PDF for your own Monthly Reset, sign up here!