how to simplify a large garden - Part II

In yesterday’s post, I explained how I started reflecting on ways that I could simplify our garden in future.  It has become very large and while I am able to cope at the moment, I don’t take it for granted that it will always be this way.
 
Some strategies for making less work for yourself around the garden include:

•          Planting annuals which self-seed freely eg poppies, calendula, borage, wildflowers.  This will save valuable time constantly sowing and/or re-planting seedlings in future seasons
•          Raising plants from seed is fun but can be time consuming.  Concentrate on varieties that are unusual and can’t be found in garden centres.  If you do want Sweet 100 or Big Beef tomatoes, they’re really cheap to buy (there were 10 seedlings crammed into a punnet for 99c which I got from Kings Plant Barn during their sale in August)
•          Sow seed direct wherever possible to save time potting up seedlings.  This may mean that you have to start a bit later than you would undercover, once outdoor temperatures have increased
•          Stop buying bulk packets of seeds.  If you’re downsizing, you shouldn’t be sowing and growing such large quantities!
•          Don’t get carried away when ordering and sowing seeds.  Try to limit the number of different varieties you order
•          Grow what you’re good at and feel comfortable with.  If your goal is to simplify the garden, now is not the time to grow new or demanding things!
•          Grow high yielding veggies to make good use of your (smaller) growing area.  Every year, I grow okra but often why I even bother, as it needs a very hot climate in order to really thrive
•          Instead of planting a winter garden, plant a cover crop to replenish the soil.  This will give you a much-needed break after a busy summer outdoors!
•          Plant in sixes.  Something I’d like to do next year (and this will take a LOT of discipline!) is to restrict myself to just six plants.  Carol actually gave me the idea when she talked about her six silverbeet plants.  Imagine how much simpler life would be if I had just 6 tomatoes, 6 cucumbers, 6 capsicums, 6 chillies, 6 pumpkins and 6 eggplants!  I could choose six different varieties and have one of each.  They would probably still produce more than enough to meet our needs and the plants would probably be even more productive as I would have more time to really care for them

Still want a big garden?  Here are a couple of ideas:

•          Give up growing veggies (oh the irony that this is a veggie growing challenge!).  Catherine Orr, a gardening friend of mine also in Auckland, gave up veggie gardening because she found edibles so much more work than growing flowers.  She now has a magnificent flower garden which she swears is a lot less time consuming 
•          Specialise.  I love the variety in our garden, but growing a mixture of different veggies, flowers, roses and fruit trees is much harder than just doing one of them.  I grew up in Whangarei and there were two dedicated rose gardens in our area (one of which belonged to our neighbour).  They are both very large and a lot of work, but it’s much easier to look after just one thing as the routine is the same (spraying, feeding, pruning and feeding for roses).  If you’re not willing to give up having a large garden, this might be a good option
•          Make the garden low maintenance.  Plant perennials.  They stay in the ground year after year, so you don’t need to resow or replant them like annuals.  Cactus are another good option, as they don’t require a lot of care

​Today’s photo is of some veggies I harvested this morning, including our first zucchini of the season!  The varieties are Zephyr and Cocozelle from Kings Seeds.