this post was submitted on 25 Mar 2025
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Gardening

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I’m in the midst of getting my planning done, 8 week starts need to get started next week for last frost at end of May.

This way I’ll know approximately how many seedlings to start and I can keep track of which ones we enjoy. With the layouts, it will allow me to keep track of crop rotations to minimize nutrient depletion. I most likely won’t do a round of cover crops though, I can always just throw some of my other nutrients to top up when needed.

Edit Link to the Libreoffice and Excel doc the file was just saved as excel format, so there is likely formatting issues. If the link reaches its limit send me a msg and I’ll make another.

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[–] tiredofsametab@fedia.io 1 points 1 day ago

I had a ton of sprouted garlic and potatoes. Got most of those into the ground (only stopped to save more room for other stuff). We've dipped back below zero the last couple of days, thwarting my plans to plant some other things (mostly brassicas) before our mini-vacation down to Tokyo (and half-day of work I need to do for my main job). When we get back, hopefully it will stay above freezing so I can continue with everything. I'll mostly be growing peppers to sell (and eat, of course), this year.

[–] Irelephant@lemm.ee 1 points 1 day ago

That's fucking excel (equivalent)??

[–] RBWells@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

My winter garden is over, except for the fennel and mojito mint (I leave it in there and just pull it up occasionally, it plays pretty nice) and a couple of lettuces.

Starting seedlings of jalapeno, butternut squash, eggplant, tomato. Later on will plant okra, a container of Stokes Purple sweet potato, and mini watermelons. Basil. The citrus made flowers but it seems late, winter was oddly cold this year.

Zone 10

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 9 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Mint is in the ground 👍

[–] TammyTobacco@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 days ago (2 children)

FYI mint can be an invasive species and very hard to kill.

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

It's a rental and I'm being evicted 👌

[–] TammyTobacco@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Oh, well in that case may I interest you in some bamboo?

[–] Irelephant@lemm.ee 1 points 1 day ago

Maybe some kudzu while you're at it.

[–] Obi@sopuli.xyz 2 points 4 days ago

I think they know and were making a funny ;)

[–] Coldcell@sh.itjust.works 16 points 5 days ago (1 children)
[–] SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

Thanks! On bed rest, so instead of dreaming about the garden, plan!

[–] richardisaguy@lemmy.world 15 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

Living in a tropical country is awesome, just take seeds, put them in soil and enjoy food the entire year; my plants are doing awesome, been using organic matter coming straight off my kitchen as compost for ages now, rarely see problems with nutrients.

[–] SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago

Too hot!

I love the winter and winter sports, living a 3 hour drive from the Rockies has its advantages and disadvantages.

I’m gonna top up with top dressing or the places garden mix which is compost and soil. Only so much room and stuff I can do myself. Sometimes gotta spend the money.

[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 14 points 5 days ago (1 children)

There's quite a few open source projects doing good things to help the plotting and planning of caring for indoor and outdoor plants. Here's two that are popular:

[–] SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago

Damn, I’ll have to check those out, amazing what is hidden out there if you know the right key words.

[–] plantsmakemehappy@lemmy.world 12 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Peppers, tomatoes, and kale seeds have been started indoors. Only the kale has sprouted so far, and the potting medium reintroduced fungus gnats to my house.

[–] SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Awesome, I like doing preliminary work with paper from my drafting training, but with the Carpal Tunnel it’s easier to just hash it straight on the PC now.

The 4x8 beds, you giving each pepper/tomato 4 ft? Or is that 4 plants?

[–] plantsmakemehappy@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago

Your "spreadsheet" is definitely awesome.

The tomatoes and peppers each get a 2x2 ft area per plant which works well with the new plant cages I bought last year for the peppers and Roma tomatoes. This year I need to setup metal poles or something for the indeterminate tomatoes since last year's attempt failed when we had some intense wind storms.

[–] mrhenry77@lemmy.world 8 points 5 days ago (3 children)

Well, that's another unexpected use-case for Excel that is actually pretty cool. Would you mind sharing it as a template?

[–] tiredofsametab@fedia.io 1 points 1 day ago

I actually planned on doing the same thing since the only alternative I could think of was mspaint for planning my garden rows in the fields.

[–] zr0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 5 days ago (2 children)

You mean Calc, since OP is using LibreOffice, as if they are not smart enough already.

[–] SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago

I was just too lazy to get the credit card to renew my office subscription…

[–] SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Of course! I would have used word, but it doesn’t like tables and I’ve messed around with excel more more for inspection templates, so seemed a perfect aside.

Linky I’ve used Libreoffice, I’ve saved it as an Excel format as well, but I don’t know if the formatting transferred or not.

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 7 points 5 days ago

When starting a garden from scratch, one must first

git init
[–] Kr4u7@lemmynsfw.com 7 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

Would you mind sharing that template? It looks so much better than other apps that I've seen :)

[–] SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

Thanks! It’s nothing fancy though.

Linky I’ve used Libreoffice, I’ve saved it as an Excel format as well, but I don’t know if the formatting transferred or not.

Got my maters started late. The $6 crate store soil blocker my wife picked up last year to try broke after the first use, so we are a little behind.

Thankfully, this year, a lot of what we are trying is direct sow or already fall planted / perennial. Still gotta start cukes, melons, and some other stuff though.

[–] Bosht@lemmy.world 6 points 5 days ago (1 children)

squints...wait is that Excel?! You madman. Whatever works I guess. Looks really nice and organized as well.

[–] SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Worse, libreoffices version. Thanks!

[–] Irelephant@lemm.ee 1 points 1 day ago

How did you learn your excel-foo?

[–] ChaosCoati@midwest.social 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I’ve downloaded the farmer’s almanac planting calendar, but haven’t started applying that to my planting plan yet.

I’ve also ordered and received my seeds.

[–] SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I used them for a bunch of my information. I tried using their garden planner… but uggh.

[–] ChaosCoati@midwest.social 1 points 5 days ago

Yeah I optimistically download it nearly every year and then basically never look at it from May on. But each year I do it again because I want to get more organized and deliberate with my garden.

[–] RebekahWSD@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

My plan of killing a bunch of seeds has started. Planted these san marzano seeds that came in a purim bag my mother gave me, and those are now in a window with both the most light and least cat activity. Some will sprout, then just die outside from unknown reasons yet.

[–] kathimmel@mstdn.social 3 points 5 days ago

@SchmidtGenetics not THAT well, actually.

[–] OlPatchy2Eyes@slrpnk.net 1 points 4 days ago

First time ever gardening by myself in my hometown... it's small, ugly, and poorly planned but at least one of every type of seed I've planted has sprouted. Makes me want to invest a little more money and energy at least.

[–] verity_kindle@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 days ago

We have to cover crop here, otherwise the soil amendments just blow away, along with the topsoil. Northern edge of USDA zone 7, the wind has been brutal.

[–] obazdaa@feddit.org 1 points 5 days ago

I'm done with my general plan, I have an idea of what I want. Now let's see what will go wrong and where I have to adapt.

Snap peas and radish are almost ready to go outside, my peppers and tomatoes seedlings are starting to grow. I'm looking forward to the season!

[–] Smokeydope@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

So, what's your codeword for pot and where does the bud grow season fit in? Hope it all works out :)

[–] meh@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 5 days ago

good start this year. got my peppers and slower flowers started under the growlights. seeded another section of the yard with tall grass and native flowers. and im adding my first bee hive this summer, ordered a nuc from a local farm that breeds for harsh winters. should be a good year if the weather would stop toying with my heart.

[–] Manifish_Destiny@lemmy.world -1 points 4 days ago

Nice autism spreadsheet. I'd make a json file myself.

[–] duckworthy36@lemm.ee -2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Let’s not assume every garden has the same Eurocentric seasonal variation on lemmy.

I’m mid season right now. Planting usually starts in October but our rain was super late this year.

Lots of weeding and trying to get my summer veggies started. I usually stop planting anything by June.

Gophers decimated most of my greens and peas, so I’m basically turning my vegetable garden into plant jail. Still have potatoes going they should be ready soon.

I also have friendly raccoons who love digging up my plants, tossing them aside to look for insects. They got so mad about my plant protectors last week I heard them fighting trying to break in.

[–] SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

That’s why I said “Garden progress” growmie, that included anyone from planning to harvest currently.

I’m also from Canada, so swing and miss buddy!