In “The Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Pacific Northwest,” Lorene Edwards Forkner gives a whole calendar of ideas of what to plant and what to harvest every month–what’s unusual is that the chapter on January, while having fewer pages, is still on equal footing with June, rather than be relegated to an off-season category.
Does year-round engagement with your garden sound daunting? Relax. Further reading encourages a steady but gentle approach–no more herculean “putting in the garden” effort in the spring–instead be strategic and realistic about how much garden you can handle and thankful for the bountiful resources of our region to provide what you leave out.
While this book is packed with information, it will work well for the novice, as Forkner is good with pointers for getting started. “If you are a beginning gardener, I recommend you learn to love your hose. Time spent at the end of it is the best education and the most accurate barometer of your garden’s needs.” I totally agree.
She also has some interesting ideas for the experienced gardener. She divides her veggies by flavor profiles, and then considers what fits into, for example, “sweet leaves” or “hearty greens.” Within each category there are plant options that which will give you a similar taste result, but some are easier to grow, or provide a harvest at different times of the year. This can simplify the planting list enormously.
Excerpted from the Summer 2013 Arboretum Bulletin.