Growing vegetables is something anyone with even a little bit of outdoor space–even if it’s just a patio or windowsill–can do! Though there’s definitely a lot a person can learn about gardening, you only need to keep a few basic things in mind to start.
The Bare Essentials…
There are some exceptions, of course, but for the most part, all you need to grow delicious and healthy produce is some soil, sunlight, water, and patience.
You’ll need to choose an appropriate spot in your yard or on your patio. For most plants, you’ll want an area that has:
- plenty of exposure to sunlight
- good drainage
- room for your crop to grow
When planting, make sure you have enough room for what you want to grow. Your seed packet will likely tell you how far apart seeds should be planted, as well as how deep they should be planted.
Sun or Shade?
Most vegetable crops require 6 to 8 hours of full sunlight a day. However, some crops like beets, turnips, kale, carrots, and several others, are more shade tolerant and can require as little as 4 hours of direct sunlight. For more on shade tolerant crops, check out this article from The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Watering, Weeds, and Mulching
While you want your garden area (or containers) to have good drainage so that water doesn’t stand, you’ll also want to make sure you water sufficiently, especially in the summer heat.
Mulching with organic material like pine needles or straw is a great way to keep in moisture in the ground, as well as keep weeds at bay. You can also use grass clippings as mulch, but be careful that you know the source of your clippings; if the grass was treated with any kind of chemical such as an herbicide, it can actually cause your plants to die.
When to plant?
It’s important to be sure you sow your seeds (or live plants) at the appropriate time. Again, most seed packets will tell you when you should plant based on your area and when they’ll be ready for harvest.
You can plant things like broccoli and lettuce and peas, for example, before your last freeze. Warmer weather crops like peppers and tomatoes and eggplant are planted after.
As an example, the chart below from K-State Research and Extension shows the optimum time for planting and harvesting specific vegetables in Kansas. Search or inquire at your local extension office for a garden calendar suitable to your location.
Seeds or Live Plants?
You can start your plants from seed or purchase plant starts from your local garden center. I’d recommend starting with seed sown directly in the ground when planting greens like spinach and lettuce; root crops like radishes, beets, and turnips; and other things like cucumbers, corn, melons, and okra.
I usually start with purchased plants when it comes to tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Sometimes, though, I might grow these myself, starting the seeds indoors and then transplanting them outside after danger of frost.
Potato are started from “seed potatoes,” which are potatoes that will sprout into plants. Before planting, cut the potatoes into halves or quarters depending on their size (you’ll want to make sure there are a few eyes on each piece). Wait at least a day after cutting before planting.
Onions can be started from sets (little onion bulbs) or plants (little green leaves with a tiny root). I much prefer starting with onion plants, as they grow larger and are less likely to bolt. You can also start onions from seeds, which I want to try one day; these usually have to be started indoors in late winter.
More Resources
Mother Earth News offers an email service that sends personalized planting reminders. To sign up, just submit your email and zip code: Click here to sign up.
Permaculture Women’s Guild offers free online courses and more here:
https://www.permaculturewomen.com/courses.html
An extensive guide to companion planting from Burpee Seeds: https://www.burpee.com/gardenadvicecenter/areas-of-interest/flower-gardening/companion-planting-guide/article10888.html
