WHOLE LIVING

HOW TO GROW VEGETABLES AT HOMEGrow Time It’s

Get going now on a backyard garden, and soon you’ll be covered up in DIY veggies.

Produce from your local farmer’s market tastes better, is cheaper and you know (if you ask) exactly how it was grown (organic, all-natural, etc.). If that sounds good, why not go a step farther and grow your own? It’s easier than you might think. A backyard garden requires some time and attention, plus a bit of manual labor, but you will definitely reap more than you sow. Your harvest will yield the freshest and cheapest veggies you can get and will bring with it the satisfaction of accomplishment.

Get StartedSTEP 1:

Choose a size for your garden and what will go in it.

Consider the size and eating habits of your family first. Then, which veggies do you like? Remember that some plants like tomatoes and squash will keep producing all summer long, while others like carrots will produce only once.

STEP 2:

Choose a site.

The size garden you want will help you make this decision. You also need to consider light. In most cases, you’ll need full-sun exposure to get the biggest, healthiest crop. Also make sure your spot drains well (doesn’t stay too wet) and has a good amount of organic matter. You can add peat moss, compost or rich garden soil to your existing dirt to create good growing conditions. Water is another thing to consider. You’ll need to augment the hydration your garden gets from rain, so the closer to your water source, the better. Once you’ve picked the place, mark the edges of your plot with string or tree-marking spray paint.

STEP 3:

Check your dirt.

There’s no reason to spend time and money fertilizing if you don’t know exactly what you need. A pH test will tell you if and what kind of fertilizer will benefit your garden. Most veggies prefer a soil ph of 6 to 6.5. Find ph test kits at gardening centers or online.

STEP 4:

Prepare the soil.

Till up the ground of your garden by hand or with a rented tiller (depending on the size of your garden) to about a foot down. Now is also the time to add in some compost or other organic matter like decaying leaves, but not too much. No more than 20 percent of the loosened soil should be compost. Work it in to the dirt you’ve dug up and then water thoroughly. Leave it for a few days before planting. If you’re planning a small garden, go with a raised bed. You can pack more into less space, and you can better control the soil quality.

STEP 5.

Get it in the ground.

For larger, in-ground gardens, plant your veggies in rows, with space between each so you can easily walk to water them and to pick your produce. Space the rows about a foot and a half apart. When putting seeds or plants in the ground, follow the instructions on seed packets and plant tags for spacing and depth, and always water when done.

STEP 6.

Prevent weeds.

Once you’ve planted, add a thin layer of mulch between plants and rows to help keep out weeds. Some will grow anyway, so remember to check every three or four days and pull each weed out with its roots intact. Doing it often will keep weeding from becoming a task you dread.

Grow Enjoy &

STEP 7.

Water and watch.

Follow the watering requirements for the different veggies you’ve chosen to plant and watch for signs of insect damage like holes in leaves. Effective treatments, including organic ones, are easy to find in gardening centers and online. And remember to keep weeding!

STEP 8.

Harvest and enjoy!

If all goes well, you may have more veggies than you and your family can eat, so share your bounty with friends and neighbors. It may encourage them to plant their own veggie patch.

Be Ready

KNOW WHAT TO PLANT WHEN

To ensure a continual harvest and a variety of veggies, follow this general planting guide for Central Alabama.

April & Early May:

Plant seeds for beans, corn, squash, melons and cucumbers. Put tomato, pepper, eggplant, sweet potato and herb plants in the ground.

Through July:

Pick a pumpkin to plant from seed as late as July.

Get Zone 8 plants, including fruit trees in the Zone and shrubs, are tolerant of our area’s climate conditions.