Garden Coalition News
The purpose of the Community Garden Coalition is to inspire and empower our community to grow and eat better together. Also to grow, connect, and encourage a community of gardeners and their gardens by offering garden resources, education and promotion through networking, partnerships, and collaborations. For more information about local garden news and Community Garden Coalition meetings, click here Contact Us
Del Norte Planting Guide
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone divides North America into 11 hardiness zones. Zone 1 is the coldest; zone 11 is the warmest. When you order plants from catalogs or read general garden books, you need to know your USDA zone in order to be able to interpret references correctly. Del Norte County ranges from zone 8a inland to 9b on the coast. Want even more precise seeding and planting times? Check out Jonny's Selected Seeds and use their seed starting date calculator. Seed-Starting Date Calculator
Have you ever considered growing your own veggies? Not only is gardening at home a great way to get more fresh veggies into your daily snacks and meals, it is a fun physical activity that the whole family can do together!
Click and check out the basic gardening information;
Planning Your Garden
When planning your garden, you first need to choose the right place for your garden, considering the amount of sunlight, soil types and conditions, and airflow. You also need to check whether the garden spot is convenient for you and any problem areas.

Select for sunlight: An open, south-facing, gradual slope is best. All vegetables need at least six hours of sunshine, and some require a lot more. Not enough sunlight will weaken your crops no matter how much care you give them. Try to locate your garden away from trees and large shrubs.

Get to know the soil: Soil is a mix of sand, silt, clay, water and air. Main soil types include sandy soil, clay soil, silt soil, and loam soil composed of sand, clay, and silt. Good gardening soil is loamy that is easy to dig, readily soaks up, stores water, drains well, and makes a good seedbed.

Is there good airflow?: Avoid a location where there is little air movement. Diseases like tomato blight thrive in warm, humid air that does not move. A natural breeze helps keep plants' leaves healthy.

Make it convenient: Put your garden where you can see it or easily visit it every day.

Avoid problem spots:
  1. Avoid low areas at the bottom of a hill where cool air and frost can settle and injure your plants.
  2. Avoid spots close to a creek and windy areas and locations near busy roads because automobile exhaust can pollute vegetables.
  3. Avoid sites where lead paint might be in the soil.

Once you have chosen the right spot for your garden, you can make a planting plan deciding what to grow considering you and your family's preferences, whether they are realistic, cost-effective, how much space each vegetable plant will take. 

The information above is some key points from the Seed to Supper, a beginner's guide to low-cost vegetable gardening curriculum, chapter 1, Planning your garden. Garden Coalition has been offering the Seed to Supper series over the last three years. Last year, Garden Coalition offered a six week virtual Seed to Supper series partnered with the Master Gardeners' program in Humboldt/Del Norte and Curry Counties. Community Food Council for Del Norte and Tribal Lands' also offered a virtual Seed to Supper series. You can watch the recordings of the Seed to Supper, Chapter 1, Planning your garden. 

Curry County Master Gardeners Program, Seed to Supper Chapter 1: Planning your Garden
Community Food Council for Del Norte and Tribal Lands, Seed to Supper, Chapter 1: Planning your Garden