GARDEN SECRETS

Spring is a time of renewal. Trees bud, birds sing and chilly mornings give way to warm afternoons. Spring is also when nature sends signs that it is time to plot our plans for summer vegetable gardens.

Novice gardeners may feel overwhelmed with the notion of starting from scratch, but take heart, as there are many options for a successful harvest. Vegetable garden designs are numerous, regardless of how much space, time or experience you have. So, whether you have a green thumb or consider yourself an amateur, we’re here to disbud your worries and help your North Carolina vegetable garden take root.

MINT TO BE?

First things first: Measure how much space you realistically have for a garden, keeping in mind that most vegetables need full sun and room to grow in order to produce a harvest.

There are plenty of choices for all types of spaces, whether you’re working with a large yard, deck, patio or balcony. A raised garden bed works well for vegetable gardening because you can control what type of soil you use.

North Carolina is home to sandy and hard clay soil, which can be challenging for plants to take root in. With a raised garden bed, you are starting with fresh and fertile soil instead of potentially unreliable earth.

Heather Rollins, marketing director at Fairview Garden Center on Holly Springs Road in Raleigh, says soil is the most important factor in any garden, particularly vegetable gardens.

“Almost all vegetables are annuals, which means they begin and end their life all in one season,” she explains. “Therefore, they are heavy feeders—and a rich soil will not just keep them growing strong, it will also help ward off disease and pest problems,” she says.

If you’re unsure of your soil quality, Rollins suggests doing a soil test to determine its pH, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus levels. The NC Cooperative Extension office, a joint effort between North Carolina State University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, will test your soil at no charge, and your local garden shop will most likely sell home soil testing kits if you’d rather test it yourself. The bottom line: Healthy soil is key if you want a successful garden.

CONTAIN YOUR EXCITEMENT

Container gardens and pots are a great way for beginners to get their hands dirty, since you can place them in your yard’s sunniest spot. Containers are also perfect for people who have busy lifestyles since pots don’t take as much time to prepare as garden beds. You simply fill them with quality soil, plant a healthy seedling, place it in the sun and water it regularly.

Vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, herbs and leafy greens flourish in containers, Rollins says. Cucumbers are also a good option if planted with a trellis, to allow its vines to climb. Hanging baskets are an option for tomatoes since tomato stems are strong enough to withstand the weight of the hanging fruit. This can be a great use of space for those who lack room for a traditional garden.

Indoor gardening has become a hit in recent years among those who want to grow their own produce year-round, as well as people who live in apartments or condos and therefore lack outdoor space. Picking fresh herbs and vegetables from the comfort of your kitchen is appealing and doable, thanks to indoor gardening kits that come with built-in lights that simulate daylight to instigate plant growth. Cherry tomatoes, microgreens and herbs are excellent indoor gardening choices.

SEEDLING GREEN

Once you decide the location and format of your garden, and prep the soil, it’s time to decide if you want to grow your plants from seeds or buy plants that have already started growing. If you opt to start with seeds, begin the process indoors, away from the cold and several weeks before the last frost date, Rollins advises.

“Some vegetables take several months to mature from seed, so it’s not practical to directly sow them in the garden,” she says. “When it comes to long-season vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and eggplant, most folks start their plants indoors or buy seedlings from their local garden center.”

If you choose to plant seedlings, check the bottom of the plants before buying them. Rollins says healthy plants should be well rooted in their growing containers, with white roots visibly emerging from the bottom of the pot. Keep in mind that too many white roots will require more water and care once the plant is transplanted.

Also, “plants should be a bright to deep green—not yellow or bright chartreuse,” Rollins says. “A deep green means a well-fertilized, watered and cared-for plant.”

THYME IT RIGHT

Plan to put your plants in the ground as soon as the last chance of frost has passed. That’s typically mid-April here in the Triangle. Remember, gardening is meant to be a fun, relaxing and healthy activity. Most gardeners admit that it takes years of trials, tweaks and mistakes to figure out what works best in each unique space. Start small and remember the recipe for a fruitful garden is sunlight, water, soil—and patience. We’re rooting for you! Sources used for this article can be found in the “Additional Resources” sidebar.

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Photo by Gollykim/Getty Images PREVIOUS PAGES, RIGHT (SET OF 3)

Photos by Amanda Dorenkamp of Wake Forest, @thehappyhomesteadnc THIS PAGE, TOP

Photo by the Wistehuff family of Raleigh

THIS PAGE, MIDDLE AND BOTTOM

Photos by the Wahl family of Apex

LOCAL CHEF GIVES NEW MEANING TO ‘FARM TO TABLE’

By Melissa Wistehuff For Sean Fowler, executive chef and owner of Raleigh’s Mandolin restaurant, fresh ingredients take center stage on seasonally evolving menus. In 2013, Fowler constructed and planted Mandolin Farm at his home in North Raleigh, where he harvests crisp produce, herbs and flowers year-round. In addition to his home gardens, he has also surrounded Mandolin’s patio with container gardens. Since Fowler’s menus feature a unique take on Southern food, he relies on his gardens to yield specific ingredients—like greenhouse tomatoes and specialty peppers—that might otherwise be hard to find at a market, particularly during the off-season. Those ingredients aren’t limited to produce. Fowler’s Mandolin Farm hens produce deep yellow egg yolks for the restaurant’s weekend brunch menus. Talk about farm to table!

GREEN THUMBS UP!

Here are some vegetables that grow well in our area of North Carolina, according to Heather Rollins, marketing director at Fairview Garden Center in Raleigh. Broccoli Brussels sprouts Cabbage Cauliflower Celery Chinese cabbage Chives Collards Eggplant Endive Escarole Kale Okra Parsley Peppers Tomatoes

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• For soil testing information, as well as expert advice on gardening in this region of North Carolina, visit NC State

Extension at gardening.ces.ncsu.edu. • For a beginner’s guide to vegetable gardening, visit almanac.com, and look under the “Gardening” then

“Beginner Gardening” tabs. • Check out gardeners.com to read tips for both novice and expert gardeners. • Ask your local garden center for guidance on what vegetables will best suit your space.

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Photo of Mandolin Farm by Josh Manning; photo of Fairview Garden Center by Bruce DeBoer; photo of Mandolin’s patio courtesy of Sean Fowler; photo of Sean Fowler by Josh Manning.