So You Think You Want a Garden …
As you consider food prices and the safety of food available for you and/or your family, it is an easy leap to the idea of growing your own food. There are some questions to ask yourself before you begin. Even though it isn’t too complicated – or too expensive to get started – we asked the experts with Linn County Master Gardeners to share their tips on starting a garden from scratch.
Where Will I Put My Garden?
First of all, figure out where your garden will be located and determine how much area is available.
Select a spot in the sun! 6-8 hours a day is a minimum amount of sun for good production of vegetables and herbs. The area should have good drainage and not be sited on a slope.
If your plot is currently covered with turf or weeds, you’ll need to kill off that vegetation before you plant. Cardboard weighted down with bricks or large stones is a good and economical way to discourage the growth you no longer want. If you didn’t place the cardboard in the fall, do so as soon as you can see the surface of the soil emerge from the snow cover.
Do I Need a Raised Bed?
Will you plant directly in the ground or would you rather have a bed that is raised above the ground?
Raised beds can help make gardening easier on your body, keep critters out, and be customized to match your yard decor. If you want to construct your own raised bed, plan to invest about $150-$200 if you will build one with lumber purchased at a big box operation and make it 4 feet x 8 feet. Experienced gardeners typically like this size so one can reach easily into the middle and accommodate many plants, too. You can readily find instructions for such a project online. You can also shop for smaller and less expensive models, some of which might be made of aluminum, for example.
While raised bed gardens have added benefits (and costs), they are not required. Gardens can be planted right on the ground. Just make sure to have a plan for keeping weeds, critters and pets out of your garden.
What Should I Grow?
The next challenge is a fun one: deciding what you want to grow. The best place to start is considering what you like to eat.
Does your family love fresh tomatoes? Do you cook with lots of herbs? Is there quite a bit of space for growing pumpkins or other squash? Think about what is important to you and consider the space available.
Growing herbs in pots right outside the backdoor so it is easy to grab them when you’re cooking. A raised bed is great for this location. Other items can be in-ground on a different plot.
If you plan to grow tomatoes, allow plenty of space for them to mature with a tomato cage around them. Other vegetables can be grown successfully with a technique known as “square foot gardening,” which means one plant for each square-foot of space. Just think of everything you can fit into a 4 x 8-foot bed!
When Do I Start Planting?
Once you have your wish list of items to grow, you should decide if you want to start seeds indoors or wait and purchase small plants in the spring. Seed starting can happen during March and can save quite a bit of cash if you’re willing to set up a grow space and have the room in your home to do so. Grow lights, heat pads, ventilation (a small fan works well) and a proper seed starting soil mix can all help your indoor seedlings get off to a great start. You can purchase kits in many big box stores or garden centers. You can see that there is an investment in getting started, but you can re-use many of these items year after year.
Winter sowing is also an option that can result in stronger plants, requires no extra equipment, and allows you to reuse your plastic milk jugs. There are many resources and “How To” videos online to help you get started. This should be done for at least 4 to 5 weeks, to give the seeds proper time to cold stratify and then germinate.
Okay, what if I’m too late to start from seeds?
It is just fine to wait and purchase the baby tomato or pepper plants in spring. Be sure to shop at a reputable garden center or from a reputable vendor at a plant sale. (We love the Spring Plant and Art Sale at Indian Creek Nature Center.) And while there are some cool weather plants that will thrive in early spring temperatures, for the most part you will want to wait until Mother’s Day to plant outdoors.
Most gardeners say planting time is their favorite part of the gardening season. It is definitely better than weeding season! Decide if you will plant rows of carrots and beans or if you’ll try the square-foot gardening method. Section off your plot into the appropriate configuration and follow the directions on the seed packet or on the tag that comes with the plant. Water everything as you finish up and be sure to mark your rows or plants!
Happy Planting!
Gardening is about growing your own food, but it’s much more than that. Gardening is about experimentation, connecting with your food, and having an excuse to get outside in your yard and breathe the fresh air.
Every gardener deals with weeds, seeds that never sprout, and invading critters. But you also get the joys of digging your hands in the dirt, sharing your overabundance with neighbors, and tasting the food you harvested yourself.