If you think the only place to get vegetables is at the grocery store, prepare to be amazed and on the way to some degree of self-sufficiency.
In the wartime years of the 1940s, many people started “Victory Gardens” as a way to grow their own vegetables. The concept faded as grocery stores popped up all over the country, but it’s now making a comeback. Beyond fears of food shortages, there are other reasons to grow your own produce, including the ability to grow specific foods or varieties, eating food that’s “fresh off the vine” and free of pesticides, as well as the fact that while growing your own food requires a lot of preparation and maintenance, it can be economical over the long run when crops are coming in regularly.
The size of your crop will be determined by the amount of land available, but there are options for apartment dwellers as well as those in suburbia who can convert a lawn into a compact, productive farm.
First Things First
The first step is to decide what you want to grow, and to determine if it’s viable to grow it where you live. The best way to do this is to review the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) plant hardiness zone map for where you live. Plants bought from a local nursery should do fine in your garden, but if you buy seeds, look at the back of the package or the USDA hardiness zone information to make sure they’re suitable for your area. As an example, while pineapples are best suited for southern sections of California and Florida, there are species of vegetables including lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, tomatoes, and more that can be grown across the United States. Read all the information on the seed packet, as it may tell you when to expect to see sprouts, the best time of year to plant, and when to harvest.Plant Your Plot
Once you decide what to grow, it’s time to decide the location and size of your “personal farm.” Most apartment dwellers might not realize they can grow their own food, but through the use of indoor plants, windowsill planters, or systems such as Rise indoor hydroponic gardens, they, too, can grow and harvest vegetables, including peppers and herbs such as basil, mint, and thyme. A community garden is another option, but not one to be further explored here.The next step is to determine the soil quality. For planter boxes or pots, use soil from the local garden center, but when repurposing a section of the yard, look at the soil. If it’s mostly rich and loamy and has the right pH levels, you are ready to start planting. However, if it’s rocky, sandy, or thick clay, you may need to amend it with compost, or bring in soil by the bag—or by the truckload.
Gardening requires the right tools, including a shovel, spade, hoes for weeding and soil-turning, a trowel, a water hose with a wand or spray nozzle, pruners, gloves, and a rain gauge. It’s actually more economical to buy the best quality tools that will last for many years, so you don’t have to replace them frequently.
With the seeds or young plants in the ground, the focus turns to maintaining the garden, keeping it free of weeds and properly watered. Indoor gardeners need to ensure that their crops receive the proper amount of sunlight for optimal growth. Keep an eye on the plants, harvest the bounty, and keep the process going.