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Fun with Vegetables in Your Garden By Janice F. Booth
Now that it’s beginning to look less like winter and more like spring, like me, you may be eager to get out in the garden and figure out what needs cleaning up and what needs settling down. You might even be putting together a list of gardening tasks—some tasks for you, some for other family members, and some for those folks who show up in their big truck with lots of powerful gardening tools and muscles, lots of muscles. We’ve all been through a lot these last twelve months, and you’re probably waiting impatiently for changes, such as less time stuck indoors at home and more opportunities to get outside for exercise and fun. And, you may also be eager for some things to return to “normal.” I’m going to try adding a new normal to my garden this year— vegetables. Maybe you’ll want to try that too. Yes, we’ve all grown a tomato plant in a pot on the patio. You may even have started an avocado plant from a pit or grown a tiny pineapple. But let’s 36
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get serious here. How about growing some crunchy vegetables in your garden? We’ve all learned how important self-reliance is, so why not feed yourself some crisp, sweet carrots and tangy radishes? I’m picturing myself wandering outdoors in June and August and even October to harvest my own pretty pea pods and an embarrassingly plump zucchini or two. Doesn’t that sound great? So, if you’re willing to give this a go, let’s begin by figuring out location; where in our lovely flower beds can we make room for peppers, lettuce, and cabbage? (That’s right; I’m not suggesting we dig up our pretty hostas and lush roses. No need for long, tidy rows that break the symmetry of your garden’s design. We’ll plant veggies among and around the flowers and shrubs. We can even focus on planters and pots for our aspiring veggies.) SUNLIGHT is the most important element if you want lush, juicy, plentiful vegetables. We’re going to have to carve out spots for planting vegetables or placing planters and pots in bright sunlight.
