Growing up, my father and grandfather always competed over who had the “better” vegetable garden. Whether my grandfather grew the biggest tomato or my father had sweeter summer squash, it was the kind of friendly rivalry even I could appreciate as a young girl. It really didn’t matter who had the better garden to me, all the veggies they picked tasted so good.
While no one in my family gardens anymore, I hope to revitalize the family tradition by planting my own vegetable garden this month. There’s no better way to get nutrient-packed veggies all summer long and now’s the time to get started!
Never planted a garden? Have no fear! If you’re a novice, like me, here are some tips to help yield a bountiful harvest all summer long …
Step #1 – Decide what you want to plant. There’s no need to create a massive garden to grow all your favorite vegetables. Simply plant a handful of varieties you eat most often and shop for the rest at your local grocery store. Much of the seasonal produce they offer comes from local farmers, so you can feel good about supporting local agriculture, too.
Step #2 – Choose an area for your garden. Make sure the spot you pick gets ample direct sunlight (roughly six hours worth) during the day. Remember to leave plenty of extra room for vine plants like tomatoes, summer squash and cucumbers – or plant them along the edges of your garden so they can grow onto your yard if need be.
Step #3 – Pick up your materials. You can begin your garden from seeds or starter plants. When purchasing soil, decide whether you want organic or conventional. Many organic soils are available at similar price points of conventional soil. Raised vegetable garden beds are also available for purchase and skip the need to prepare and dig out your own yards’ soil. And don’t forget small essentials like garden gloves, plant supports (like a trellis or stake) for vine plants and gardening tools.
Step #4 – Get Planting! Follow the directions on your vegetable seeds or starter plants and have fun digging away. With a little water, sun and TLC you’ll have a bountiful garden to help fill your plate with color and nutrition all summer long. For more information on gardening, visit the National Garden Association at garden.org.
Recipe
Mom’s Grilled Summer Squash This is a quintessential summer must-have for my family; we’ve been making it for as long as I can remember. For added nutrient punch, use a mixture of yellow and green summer squash.
As a general rule, put tall veggies toward the back of the bed, mid-sized ones in the middle, and smaller plants in the front or as a border. Consider adding pollinator plants to attract beneficial insects that can not only help you get a better harvest, but will also prey on garden pests.
As a general rule, put tall veggies toward the back of the bed, mid-sized ones in the middle, and smaller plants in the front or as a border. Consider adding pollinator plants to attract beneficial insects that can not only help you get a better harvest, but will also prey on garden pests.
Work a two to three inch layer of compost into the soil with a rototiller or shovel at least a month prior to planting. Smooth the surface so that you are ready to plant when the weather is appropriate. Also, consider having the soil in your garden nutrient tested through a certified lab before planting.
The four-garden classic requires a space that's square (or nearly square) in shape and at least 15 feet wide. Each of the raised beds in this garden layout are the same size, typically 4 feet, 6 feet, or 8 feet long and 2 to 4 feet wide.
Cucumbers and tomatoes can be planted by each other as they share similar growing habits and therefore you can grow tomatoes by cucumbers. Greg Volente from Greenhouse Today explains that: 'Cucumbers and tomatoes are two vigorous growers in a spring garden.
The other rule of thumb when using this layout plan is to organize your spacing so that your tallest growing vegetables are planted on the north side of your rows. Follow them with medium height vegetables, and then plant your shortest crop on the south side of the rows.
The stages that plants go through are from seed to sprout, then through vegetative, budding, flowering, and ripening stages. Similarly, the nutritional needs of people and plants change as they grow.
Most plants should be spaced 2 to 3 feet apart, so they'll have room to grow and get plenty of sunlight and air circulation. Put your plants in the holes and cover them with soil. Don't bury them any deeper than they were in their containers. Gently press the soil down around them.
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