Grow Your Own Garden

Photo by: chrisq

As a child, I vividly recall Mrs. Godfrey's magical backyard. Whereas mine was a scorched wasteland of dry weeds and doggie doo, our neighbor's was a flourishing Garden of Eden. From squash and aloe to strawberries and lettuce, there was no greater treat than an invitation to pick produce from her fertile plot. Perhaps memory exaggerates too much, but I'm convinced her fruits and vegetables were juicier, more flavorful, and bigger than any we'd comb through at the local grocer.

If you have absolutely no margin carved out in your life to consider establishing and maintaining a home garden, by all means, continue buying the bland, hyper-colored produce from national chains. Maybe shopping the local farmer's market is a better solution for you. But, after your initial investment of time (and minimal funds), you can truly reap the rewards of growing your own.

We've compiled several helpful hints to kick start your efforts at growing your own garden, but the most thorough advice will come from seasoned growers in your area. Be neighborly; make them a batch of cookies and pick their brains about the soil and climate.

1. Establish a specific area in your yard that has full sun. Avoid planting in shady areas.
2. Keep your garden moist with compost. Get a few buckets of dark sweet smelling stuff that is dense with worms and other soil organisms. Composting will give you ample supply of decomposing matter and make great use of recycling.
3. Ditch the traditional rows. You need to maximize the small space used, so the fewer rows you have the more produce you'll be able to grow. Opt for a few raised beds and clearly mark the produce type.
4. Rotate your crops every three years to avoid depleting the soil. Make a map of your garden so you don't have to remember what was planted where.
5. Plant throughout each season. This avoids a massive undertaking at the beginning or end of each season and keeps more crops flourishing throughout the year.
6. Focus on growing vertically to save space. Plants like tomatoes, melons, and cucumbers can be trellised or grown on the surrounding fence.
7. The quality of your soil will greatly affect the nutritional value of your produce. Using an excessive amount of synthetic fertilizers greatly reduces the food's taste and quality.

Consider the savings involved in home gardening: $1 in green bean seeds will reap $75 annually while every $1 invested in potatoes will provide $5 of purchased spuds. If you plant an 8 by 4 foot garden, expect to pay close to $100 for the bare basics—soil, plants, and compost.

Not only will establishing a home garden help you save money at the grocery store if you put in the effort, it can be a fabulous learning experience for the children in your own family.Let them help tend the plants and conduct experiments within the garden. Container plants such as cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cucumber, tomatoes, and carrots can thrive in apartments with balconies.