Growing Goodness

Last month, I wrote a post about Spring Gardening and some great tips for getting your garden ready. With that said, I didn’t touch on growing fruits, vegetables  or herbs, and how to grow these, but I did promise to follow up. There are many tips and tricks to growing a plentiful garden that can really make a huge difference in the produce area of your grocery list. I absolutely love being able to grow my own edible delights right in my backyard, and would love to share some of my knowledge with you. Here are some important things to remember when growing your own nutritious fare.

Herbs: Growing herbs are an easy and fun way to brighten up your meals. They also are easy to grow either indoors or out, and can even be transitioned depending on the season. They are the least finicky to grow, as they can be grown in a container or in a plot, and need very little care besides sun and water. They also don’t take a ton of space, so it’s a great option if you have a small area outside or want to grow on a balcony or windowsill. The only major thing to note when growing herbs is your sunshine and the drainage of the soil, and that they will need a trim every now and then to help with the production and growth.

Fruits & Vegetables: To get started, I would first refer to the beginner list from my last gardening post. This will give you the basic necessities to get started. Then, you will need to decide which foods you plan to grow and their space & sun needs. This is very important because it will decide where your garden is going to go and how much room you will need to plan out. There are many lists available online with recommendations for hardiness in your area, meaning which items have a better chance at survival. Another major element of growing a fruit and vegetable garden is ensuring you have the correct soil; it needs to be well-aerated, free of rocks or sand and should have compost or manure in it, to help with the organic matter. Another major factor is deciding whether to start from seed or from ‘starts;’ If you have the time or you are a more knowledgeable gardener, it’s much less expensive to start with seeds, but ‘starts’ are easier to work with. With all of this knowledge, you are ready to GROW! Plot your land, plant your goodies and get excited about the nutritional and financial benefits of a homegrown garden!