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.JPG) So,
you've decided that you want to try growing something -- not just
anything, but food! (Congrats.) Just think: fresh, delicious,
affordable healthy food... grown with your own blood, sweat, and
tears. (Wait, no, maybe not all three.) But seriously!
Where
do you start? What do you plant? How
do you keep the darned things alive?
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What
You'll Need
Gardening space
Seeds or starter plants
Soil mix
Watering can (and water)
Soil supplements
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Planning
Your Garden
Plants
have different light, temperature, and climate needs. Some plants
like beans, tomatoes, and strawberries love sun and heat, while
others like lettuce and green onions favour shade. Some, like
thyme and parsley, aren't too particular and can grow happily
year-round if cared for.
Whether
you have access to a yard or community garden plot or a small
raised bed or a collection of containers, it's possible to grow
something. The size of your site will impact what you can grow --
some plants aren't suited to small-space gardening, so good garden
planning is essential.
The
type of growing medium you need will depend on your growing space.
Containers, for example, require a soil-less or other container
suitable mix to ensure proper drainage.
Make
sure to plan when and what you want to plant. Many plants require
their seeds sown after last frost, while others can be sown
indoors any time, provided light and temperature needs are met.
Some plants also benefit from being planted with others (companion
planting).
Beginning
Your Garden
Depending
on the type of seed and the time of year, seeds may need to be
sown indoors and transplanted outside later or planted directly in
their plots. The seed package will tell you how deep to plant
seeds, as well as where and when.
All
plants need a few things in order to sprout and grow: soil,
moisture, warmth, and light. Soil should be moist before you plant
seeds -- damp, like a wrung-out sponge, not wet or soggy. Some
seeds like alfalfa or mustard will sprout in a few days, while
others like rosemary can take weeks or even a month to germinate.
Watering
is a regular task, and how often you do it depends on the age of
the plant, weather, soil type, container type, and type of plant.
You can water manually or set up a drip/low-flow automatic or
contained self-watering system.
When
your seedlings grow to a certain size, they will often need to be
transplanted, especially if grow in starter trays or small
containers. Plants need room for their roots and shoots to grow,
and crowding them will make it harder for them to survive. The
thinnest should be cut at soil level (thinning). When
transplanting, dig the planting hole slightly deeper and about
twice as wide as the original pot. Add compost or organic
fertilizer into the hold and gently ease the plant in. Make sure
its soil is level with the new surrounding soil, and then fill in
the remainder of the hold with soil and water well.
Garden
Maintenance (Keeping Plants Alive)
There
are a few key essentials to keeping plants healthy and thriving.
Pruning
removes dead, dying, or diseased growth; improves air circulation;
allows sunlight to reach and ripen fruit; and improves or controls
the size and shape of a plant. The type of plant will help
determine how you prune new and old growth. Culinary herbs, for
example, should have new growth pinched out regularly to encourage
bushier and more vigorous growth and prevent the plant from
producing flowers and seeds.
Weeds
can be troublesome for in-ground gardens, while container and
indoor gardens may see little to no weed growth. They can cause
problems because they compete with crops for nutrients and space
-- and can take over your garden if you fail to keep them at bay.
(Some weeds can also be helpful, but that's a story for another
time.)
Weeding
can be done by hand, through mulching, or through use of organic
weed controls (e.g. mixture of salt and vinegar).
When
it comes to pest and disease control, the best defence is healthy
soil and plants. Some insects like aphids are looking forward to
tasting your home-grown goodies, while others like ladybugs and
bees can be beneficial.
As
your plants grow, they take in nutrients from the soil. To keep
your soil healthy and your plants productive, it is necessary to
amend your soil from time to time. Making and using compost is one
of the best ways to do this.
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What
are the best seeds to buy? There are a lot of choices. Organic or
non-GMO seeds, grown without insecticides or fungicides, are a
good bet, but you can also grow heirloom varieties, which have
natural resistance to pests and diseases.
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The three rules of watering:
1)
Water the soil, not the leaves.
2)
Water in the morning. The second best time is at night.
3)
Water deeply, not more frequently. It is better to water
infrequently for longer periods of time, allowing water to soak
in, than to sprinkle the soil surface daily.
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Tip:
If you start your seedlings indoors, they will need to be hardened
off before moving outside. Putting young plants outside without
preparation can shock and kill them.
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The
Short Version
1)
Find a container and fill it with soil mix.
2)
Sow a few seeds in the soil.
3)
Put the plant in a sunny spot protected from frost.
4)
Remember to water it occasionally (based on the plants' water
requirements).
5)
Wait. Keep it company. Sing it a song. Love it and care for it.
(Cross your fingers?)
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There you have it! Our very own
(and very cursory) guide to growing food. Gardening can take some
trial-and-error before you find what works for you, so be patient,
get creative, and dig into some dirt. Happy planting!
Resources
Bellamy,
A. (2010). Sugar snaps and strawberries: Simple solutions for
creating your own small-space edible garden.
Portland, Oregon: Timber Press.
