For the past 6 years, my family and I have steadily improved the emerald hue of our collective green thumb. We started with a few herbs and flowers, moved on to beans and peas. And last year we even successfully grew several hearty corn stalks replete with edible ears of silver queen and butter and sugar varieties! We were so proud!
This year, we will plant some easy stand-bys along with a couple of veggies we haven't yet tried and/or succeeded in growing yet. We'll start pumpkins, summer squash & zucchini, corn, sugar snap peas, Roma tomatoes, cayenne and jalapeno peppers, cilantro, dill, sage, parsley and a favorite with the kids - sunflowers.
So, while I'm not a master gardener by any means, I have a few tips that I hope will give you the confidence to begin your own veggie garden.
- First, know your garden. What type of sun does it receive? Full, partial, afternoon, morning, etc? Also, how is the soil? Is it sandy, clay-filled, or rich. The best, easiest gardens to grow in are very sunny with rich soil that drains well. That means garden spaces that are not under trees or closely surrounded by tall shrubs.
- Next, select your seeds. Read the packet and be sure you are selecting seeds that are compatible with your garden and the type of sun it gets. We've discovered that sugar snap peas are a very forgiving plant.
- You'll want to begin growing some of your seeds inside right around now (approximately 6 weeks before the final frost). There are many products on the market that make starting seeds inside simple and virtually mess-free. I like the products that are either reusable/recyclable or compostable.
- Soak the starter soil pods and plant 2 or 3 seeds per pod. The rule of thumb for planting depth is to bury the seed about twice the length of the seed. For instance, plant a 1/2" seed 1" deep.
- Cover the seeds with clear plastic and keep moist and out of direct sunlight. Most people put their seeds on top of the fridge because it is warm and out of the way.
- Once the seeds begin to sprout, remove the cover and place in a sunny window. Choose the heartiest sprout that comes up in each pod and pinch off/remove the others. That way you will ensure the strongest plant gets the best chance.
- Around Memorial Day, the weather should be cooperating enough to bring your plants outside to the garden. A few days before Memorial Day, bring your seedlings outside for an hour or two each day. This is called "hardening off" and prepares the plants for the rigors of outdoor living.
Once you've replanted your seedlings outside, check on them daily to ensure they do not get too dry or too weedy. You may want to give your plans a little food like Osmocote now and again. Read the label and you'll be fine! A few weeks later, you're ready to reap the delicious rewards of your not-so-hard work!
Once you begin to have a little success with a vegetable garden, you may find that composting is not only not such a terrible chore, but actually a gratifying project that not only keeps your garbage out of landfill, but also puts it to a noble use! Happy Seed-Planting!
