Senior Living

The Joy of Gardening

Ilove spring! New growth and a chance to get out there and do what I love - which just happens to be digging in the dirt. This Oklahoma girl is ALL about those funny things on social media regarding purchasing plants. Not being from here originally (from Montana) has given me a struggle for years trying to grow things in Oklahoma soil. However, I am getting there and have had some success in the last few years. This year - I might just actually get a tomato harvest! Groceries are high! No matter where you live, you can probably find room to grow something. When your purpose for gardening is to decrease your food bills, have better tasting homegrown goods, or just to feel accomplished, your planning does not necessarily have to be strategic. I always think about what can I grow a lot?

Some vegetable plants produce tons of food, more to share - right? For example, anyone who has ever had a zucchini plant knows that one plant will see you through a hungry summer and make you multiple loaves of zucchini bread well into winter. Even if you buy seedlings instead of starting plants yourself, each of these plants will provide a lot of food: tomatoes, Eggplants, Summer Squash (yellow and zucchini, peppers, beans, okra, and cucumbers.

Every area has veggies that grow well and veggies that fail miserably - (I know all about those). With Oklahoma's hot and humid weather, you have to consider the physical area for planting. Raised beds and container growing are perfect places to start. I am growing carrots, radishes, lettuce, and tomatoes this year in pots! If you don't have a yard or, like myself, want just to garden and see what you can produce, there are many vegetables that you can grow in containers on a patio or grow indoors. Consider options like herbs, microgreens, spinach, green onions, mushrooms, and lettuce.

Part of the fun is figuring out what grows best around your home and when to water what. This year I am trying to water container plants in the early afternoon and bed plants in the morning which gives the most efficient water usage.

Composting has become something that I have been doing on a small scale. I have a lidded plastic bin with holes drilled on the sides, the bottom of the bin, and the lid. It has been placed outside. For better results, you can run your fruit and veggie scraps through the blender and run outdoor clippings over with the lawnmower. The smaller the pieces you put into your compost bin, the faster you will have beautiful soil from it.

You also have several garden supplements that you can use that you probably use during the week: • banana peels for potassium • coffee grounds (blueberries, avocados, and fruit trees love these) • eggshells that are rinsed, dried, and crumbled can help add calcium and also keep certain insects from eating the leaves of your plants because the eggshells are sharp. • If you have fish in a pond or aquarium, the waste they add to the water is fantastic fertilizer for your garden.

I use several gardening groups on social media, where you can ask questions, identify plants, and share your sorrows when it doesn't work out. Another great resource is County Extension Offices that offer classes, information on soil tests, and how to become a Master Gardener. Gardening is good for the soul - it eases stress and gives me a sense of accomplishment. Watching a few seeds from a package grow into a plant, caring for the plant, and producing food is very satisfying.

And don't get me started on gardening with flowers. That is a whole other gardening wonder that produces so much beauty. Every year I have successes I can celebrate, failures that I can learn from, and there is always next year!