by Joanne Camas
INTRODUCTION
Why Grow Your Own?
As a cook, nurturing your own vegetables is the perfect way to seize control over your ingredients. And "victory gardens" (also known as "war gardens" since they popped up during World Wars I and II to reduce pressure on food supplies) couldn't be timelier: Spring and summer are planting season, do-it-yourself projects can save money, and you don't have to be a gourmet eater to recognize the advantages of using local and seasonal ingredients.
Gardening is trendy too: Nearly 43 million U.S. households are planning to grow their own produce this year, which is up 19 percent from 2008, according to the National Gardening Association. Even Michelle Obama is into it; she has become the first First Lady to maintain a veggie garden since Eleanor Roosevelt.
Yes, there will be some down-and-dirty moments. But the pros far outweigh the cons. For example: You'll always have fresh, tasty, nutritious food on hand. You will know that your food has not been sprayed with chemicals. Your diet may improve now that you have healthier options at your fingertips. Flavors will taste better, brighter. You'll save money in the long run.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Q&A WITH Renee Shepherd, owner of Renee's Garden(http://www.reneesgarden.com/)
answering common beginner questions about vegetable gardens.
You don't need a lot of space to grow some vegetables like tomatoes.
What's the best way to start a vegetable garden?
Renee Shepherd: The best way is to start small, with perhaps fresh salad greens and herbs. Grow mixed baby lettuce, chives, parsley, and dill. Then, as you learn more, you can expand into other vegetables. Don't be afraid to experiment—even if everything doesn't work out, you'll learn from your mistakes.
Renee Shepherd: The best way is to start small, with perhaps fresh salad greens and herbs. Grow mixed baby lettuce, chives, parsley, and dill. Then, as you learn more, you can expand into other vegetables. Don't be afraid to experiment—even if everything doesn't work out, you'll learn from your mistakes.
Do I need a lot of space?
RS: Absolutely not. You can use containers on your fire escape or deck if you don't have a backyard to dedicate to growing vegetables. Some types of vegetables are even developed specifically for growing in containers: There are compact varieties of delicious tomatoes, little sweet peppers, tender baby lettuce, crunchy cucumbers, and handsome golden chard that will reward you with beautiful plants and abundant harvests you can plan meals around.
RS: Absolutely not. You can use containers on your fire escape or deck if you don't have a backyard to dedicate to growing vegetables. Some types of vegetables are even developed specifically for growing in containers: There are compact varieties of delicious tomatoes, little sweet peppers, tender baby lettuce, crunchy cucumbers, and handsome golden chard that will reward you with beautiful plants and abundant harvests you can plan meals around.
What are some easy vegetables to grow?
RS: Some of the easiest are lettuce, beans, cucumbers, squash, radishes, scallions, chard, and herbs such as cilantro, parsley, and chives. All of these can be grown directly in your garden from seed. (Check out Epicurious's guide to growing a windowsill herb garden. http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/seasonalcooking/farmtotable/herbgarden
RS: Some of the easiest are lettuce, beans, cucumbers, squash, radishes, scallions, chard, and herbs such as cilantro, parsley, and chives. All of these can be grown directly in your garden from seed. (Check out Epicurious's guide to growing a windowsill herb garden. http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/seasonalcooking/farmtotable/herbgarden
What's the difference between starting vegetables from seed and buying those flats of seedlings that I've seen at the nursery?
RS: The cheapest and easiest option is starting them from seed. For most plants, you just sow the seeds in your garden in the early spring. A packet of seeds costs around $2.70 to $3.70, which is much cheaper than the flats of plants (shallow trays) or mini-planters sold in nurseries later in the spring. But if you live in a cooler, temperate climate, you won't be able to plant tropical plants like tomatoes and eggplant until late spring, which won't give them a long enough growing season to bear fruit. To get around this problem, you can either start the seeds indoors in the early spring and then transplant them outside once it gets warmer, or buy seedlings in late spring.
When is the best time of year to plant?
RS: Although it's tempting to rush out into the garden and plant those veggies when the sun is shining and the frost has gone, be patient. Plants will thrive when the soil has warmed through and the night temperature doesn't fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Find more about growing zones and frost dates:
RS: Although it's tempting to rush out into the garden and plant those veggies when the sun is shining and the frost has gone, be patient. Plants will thrive when the soil has warmed through and the night temperature doesn't fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Find more about growing zones and frost dates:
http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html.
How do I prepare the soil before planting?
RS: The best way is to work several inches of organic material into your garden soil to improve its balance, texture, and water-holding capacity. Use aged manure, rotted leaves, peat moss, compost (the most effective option) or whatever's available. Good soil is essential to having a productive garden. For information about compost and pH levels, go to: http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/seasonalcooking/farmtotable/veggiegardentips
RS: The best way is to work several inches of organic material into your garden soil to improve its balance, texture, and water-holding capacity. Use aged manure, rotted leaves, peat moss, compost (the most effective option) or whatever's available. Good soil is essential to having a productive garden. For information about compost and pH levels, go to: http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/seasonalcooking/farmtotable/veggiegardentips
How much watering will I need to do?
RS: It is not possible to say how much to water vegetables as there are too many different kinds of climates all over the country. Ideally, one keeps the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Mulching plants to conserve moisture is a good strategy in areas that are dry and hot. In areas with low summer rain, drip irrigation is a good solution. Generally, if you put your finger in the soil and it feels dry up to your first knuckle, watering is in order. Plants growing in containers will need more water as they dry out more quickly.
RS: It is not possible to say how much to water vegetables as there are too many different kinds of climates all over the country. Ideally, one keeps the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Mulching plants to conserve moisture is a good strategy in areas that are dry and hot. In areas with low summer rain, drip irrigation is a good solution. Generally, if you put your finger in the soil and it feels dry up to your first knuckle, watering is in order. Plants growing in containers will need more water as they dry out more quickly.
Mulching: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulch
Drip Irrigation:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drip_irrigation
How do I know when my vegetables are ready to harvest?
RS: Use all your senses: Tap and smell melons, pull back corn husks to check the appearance of the kernels, and open a pod to look for perfectly plump peas. As with other aspects of gardening, recognizing perfect ripeness is more an art than a science, so don't be afraid to make mistakes—That's how you'll learn. One thing to remember: Generally, vegetables are best harvested in the cool morning hours, before they've lost moisture in the midday heat. This will help them stay crisp and keep longer.
RS: Use all your senses: Tap and smell melons, pull back corn husks to check the appearance of the kernels, and open a pod to look for perfectly plump peas. As with other aspects of gardening, recognizing perfect ripeness is more an art than a science, so don't be afraid to make mistakes—That's how you'll learn. One thing to remember: Generally, vegetables are best harvested in the cool morning hours, before they've lost moisture in the midday heat. This will help them stay crisp and keep longer.
Where can I learn about garden design?
RS: There are tons of resources on the Web. Renee's Garden's kitchen garden planning guide (http://www.reneesgarden.com/hm-gardnr/resource/short-season-garden.pdf) comes with suggested layouts and a list of the best time to plant each type of vegetable. You can also sign up at GrowVeg.com and plan your garden using its software (http://www.growveg.com/Default.aspx). The site offers a 30-day free trial; an annual subscription is $25. Little House in the Suburbs offers a cool downloadable guide(http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/01/free-download-2009-spring-garden.html) you can customize and print out to show planting times for your area.
RS: There are tons of resources on the Web. Renee's Garden's kitchen garden planning guide (http://www.reneesgarden.com/hm-gardnr/resource/short-season-garden.pdf) comes with suggested layouts and a list of the best time to plant each type of vegetable. You can also sign up at GrowVeg.com and plan your garden using its software (http://www.growveg.com/Default.aspx). The site offers a 30-day free trial; an annual subscription is $25. Little House in the Suburbs offers a cool downloadable guide(http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/01/free-download-2009-spring-garden.html) you can customize and print out to show planting times for your area.
Read More
http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/seasonalcooking/farmtotable/veggiegarden
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