EVERYONE CAN RAISE DELICIOUS FOOD IN THEIR OWN GARDENING SPACE.
Whether you have a full-blown backyard garden, containers on your patio, or pots on your windowsill, you can raise an amazing amount of food.
The basic requirements are good fertile soil, lots of sunshine and a water source.
There are vegetables that would rather be raised from seed as they do not easily transplant. These include peas, lettuces, carrots, beets, beans, squash and cucumbers.
Others are best grown from transplants carried by your local greenhouses. These include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, many herbs and brassicas (cabbage, etc).
Choose the sunniest spot, prepare your soil by tilling the ground or filling your pots.
A great container mix is one part topsoil, one part manure/compost and one part potting soil.
Sow your seed or plant your transplant, water it well and then stand back and watch Mother Nature take over.
Given the proper care, your garden will yield lots of delicious and nutritious vegetables for your dining pleasure.
Helpful hints include starting a gardening diary. Record what, when and how you plant. Note other things such as weather, bugs, disease, lack of pollinators, etc. that affect your garden. This will serve as a future resource on your gardening journey.
Deal with weeds and other problems as soon as possible to keep them from becoming insurmountable issues.
Proper watering is a key factor. Water LOW and SLOW for best results. Most plants require an inch of water per week unless the weather is extremely hot or cold. It is better to underwater than to overwater. Keep the leaves dry to avoid disease issues.
Do not over fertilize. If you start with healthy soil you will not need to add much fertilizer.
Allow your vegetables to ripen on the plant. They will taste so delicious when picked at peak ripeness. Vegetables kissed by the sun have an extraordinary flavor.
Remember, you can plant three seasons of the year–spring, summer and fall.
If you run into any issues, your local greenhouse, as well as Ohio State University Extension, are more than happy to give you advice.
So don’t dawdle. Make this the year you grow some great produce. ✲
