Imagine walking out your kitchen door and picking huge leaves
off kale plants so tall that they look like mini palm trees. Zucchini and
tomatoes pile up on your countertops, and fresh-picked chives, often so
expensive and difficult to find in stores, are just a matter of visiting the
pot on your balcony. You have so much lettuce that you’re giving it away. Such
is the life of a home gardener.
With a little bit of knowledge and a lot of practice, it’s possible to grow
much of your food. Even apartment dwellers can reap the benefits of
container-grown herbs and vegetables. Growing food can beautify your
surroundings, reduce your carbon footprint, provide a creative and active
outlet, and increase your access to nutritious food. Gardeners reap the
benefits of a world of delicious and colorful produce that takes local and
seasonal eating to a new level, including things like fresh-picked peas,
tomatoes, arugula, cucumbers and blueberries that taste better than anything
you can buy in stores.
Many people want to grow their own food but don’t know where
to start. Vegetable gardening is a learning process. And as with any art form,
you’ll never truly master it. Yet with a few simple principles and a
willingness to learn from your mistakes, you can grow food — whether it’s a pot
of basil on your windowsill or a full-scale backyard farm. Trying to decide if
you should grow vegetables this year? Here are some things you should know
first.
1. Anyone can grow food. If you don’t have a big, sunny
backyard, take heart: You can still grow food. A balcony or even a windowsill
will work.
2. Start small. Gardening is a skill that takes time to
learn. If you’re new to growing food, start with just a few potted herbs or one
raised bed. Embrace mistakes and don’t beat yourself up if you lose a crop to
slugs. Gardening is a forgiving practice: You can always begin again.
3. Good soil is key. Don’t expect results from your
yard’s existing soil. To grow vegetables, you need rich soil with lots of
nutrients. Before planting anything, get the best soil you can find, preferably
organic. If you’re working with a full-size yard, find a soil supplier in your
area and arrange a delivery. For container gardens, you’ll want a good-quality
potting mix. To keep your soil fertile year after year, you’ll need to
add compost every spring.
4. Gardening takes time. You can’t just plant seeds
once at the beginning of the year and walk away. Gardens thrive with weekly
planting, thinning, weeding, harvesting and pruning, and may need to be watered
as often as twice a day if you’re in a hot climate. When planning your garden,
take your schedule into account. A full backyard may need up to 10 hours of
work a week, while a small balcony can get by with only a couple of hour.
5. You still have to
wash your vegetables. Even when your crops are pesticide-free, it’s
important to wash them thoroughly to remove soil, bacteria and parasites
like Toxoplasma gondii. A big salad spinner will be your best friend.
6. You can grow a lot of food. With just six
8-by-4-foot raised beds in a sunny backyard, you can easily feed a family of
four all the kale, tomatoes, carrots and greens you could possibly eat without
having to go to the store, plus enough extras to freeze or can for the winter.
If your space is smaller, a collection of medium-size planter boxes can keep
you supplied with the salads you need.
The benefits of gardening are immense. Growing food is a fascinating hobby, an
effective stress reliever and a surprisingly good workout — just watch your
back when it comes to digging. Growing a significant portion of the vegetables
your family eats, or even all your vegetables, is more attainable than most
people realize. By starting small, setting aside time each week for garden
maintenance and not getting discouraged if things don’t go perfectly, you’ll be
well on your way to garden success.