time to start planning for 2012

if you have not set up your boxes yet or you need to plan your planting for 2013
no better time then to start doing it now, before the ground gets to cold to work, the new seed catalog start coming for 2013 , the prices go up, the varieties in catalogs change and the seeds for 2012 are discounted for close out.

As for planning out you boxes except for the few over winter crops which is best to have a separate bed, each season you start with clean slate and all 2012' s issues behind you.

I was just looking over my boxes this morning planning for spring and thought I was nutz. But I think I have it all figured out already. I probably should put it on paper since I know come spring I will have forgotten most of my ideas.

Thanks for the reminder.
CC

nope i do not think you are nutz but I think your bit behind since I already planning 2014.

I dared make a new plan for 2013 a week ago when I realized my gardening time will be cut back next year. I have it all on paper, but I'm sure, as in the past, I'll make changes right up to planting days. I love to juggle the plan.
But what I won't juggle is the need for compost, compost, compost next year.
I've already composted the Asparagus bed, cold frame and a couple of my short berms. I'll be adding compost to my fall strawberry bed after I get one third of the row cleared out to make room for new growth next spring.
I have last year's dried, bagged leaves which will be layered over my other nine beds before the compost is added. The dried leaves make a great winter and then spring feeding source for worms.
Garden prep should always be ongoing, both winter and spring.
Nonetheless, my current plan on paper, in black and white, will change many times before the transplants and seeds are sown next year.

Here's my tentative plan for 2013; comments and suggestions are welcome!

Donna in zone 10, I am impressed that you've laid out your plans so well already. I am busy contemplating what to do differently next year but not put it to plan yet. I want a few celery plants. I will not grow perilla or jalapeno peppers. I will place the nasturtium outside of the beds. She takes over and would look beautiful cascading down a wall and not taking up space in the raised beds. I will do roma tomatoes (again) but not Indigo rose tomatoes. Their flavor is not sufficiently tomato-ey and I want a larger tomato. I may also do a cherry tomato. Other "for sures" are green beans, peas, cucumbers, parsley (I let it get huge then pull the entire plant and dry it for the winter), greens of course, carrots and parsnips, beets--both red and gold. I hope to add a few beds to allow me to plant kale/collard greens/chard.

Laurie

Yep, I am one of the crazies that have her garden plans in excel spreadsheets! I have to write everything down since I won't remember what I planted and when!!
I have three 4x4 beds which I rotate each year, example: Bed #1 currently had/has cucum, watermelon, zucc, carrots, lett, beets, radishes (some at different times). Next Spring Bed #1 will have whatever Bed #2 currently had/has, hence 3 Tomato plants, 2 pepper plants, lettuce, beets, garlic. In the spring Bed #3 will get this current yr's crops from Bed #1 in the spring. Then all the beds get new compost in late fall, covered up for winter and rotated each spring.
I will make changes to crops that didn't do well but I do give them the 3 time rule......if they don't work 3yrs in a row (3 strikes) then they are permanently out! I also take alot of notes on an excel spreadsheet. Of course, I do make alot of changes even as I plant the seeds/plants.
In the meantime best of luck with your fall gardens.