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It's
a good time to think of a garden
Feb 11, 2009
Suzanne Havala Hobbs
With
snow flurries in the air, it doesn’t seem the time to
think about planting peas and carrots.
But the quiet winter months can be a great time to make gardening
plans. By growing your own fruits and vegetables, you can
save money and, importantly, improve your diet.
You may even find it’s a great way to unwind.
It’s not hard to do. In fact, there’s a garden
for everyone, whether you have a little time and space or
a lot.
If you need to, start with one or two favorite vegetables
or herbs – tomatoes and basil, for example. Keep it
simple.
Plant in a container such as a half barrel or large clay pot,
if you don’t have a yard. If you have more space, start
with a small plot.
As you gain experience and confidence, you may consider increasing
the size of your garden and the variety of foods you grow.
You might even find you want to keep something growing year-round.
That’s especially easy to do in North Carolina where
the growing season is so long.
There are many good, free resources, too, to help you get
started. My favorites come from our North Carolina Cooperative
Extension Service at N.C. State University. See: www.cals.ncsu.edu/agcomm/successg/fruitsveggies.pdf.
As you think about where to plant, keep a few key points in
mind:
* How much sunlight do you get? You’ll need a spot that
gets at least six hours of direct sunlight every day. For
most of us, that means finding an area in the yard that is
relatively free from the shadows of trees and buildings.
* Is your soil in good shape? Putting the upfront effort into
digging, diagnosing your soil’s condition and amending
it with other ingredients, as needed, is an important step.
Think about drainage, too. Get tips for preparing gardens
from our N.C. Extension Service.
* How do you plan to water? You’ll need about an inch
a week. The most efficient way to deliver that is through
a soaker hose or drip irrigation line. Both are inexpensive
and easy to install.
* Convenience. You’ll want to pick a spot that’s
easy to get to. If you plant a garden close to your house,
you’ll be more likely to notice when plants need water
or weeding.
You may also notice pests or a ripe tomato more quickly than
you would if the garden were located at the end of the yard.
Give some thought to what you want to plant, too. Some of
the most nutritious fruits and vegetables are also the easiest
to grow.
Good examples: pumpkins and melons, bell peppers, sweet potatoes,
tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards,
turnips, kale, mustard greens and spinach.
Strawberries are easy to grow as container plants. Other fruits
that do well in small spaces include blueberries, raspberries
and blackberries.
Grapes and figs are also easy to grow.
Don’t forget to plant some herbs. Basil, chives, dill,
mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary and tarragon are a few favorites.
Why pay top dollar for fresh herbs when they’re easy
to grow at home? Herbs add interest to potted plant arrangements
and can be mixed in with annuals and other plantings around
the yard.
An added bonus of growing your own fruits and vegetables is
that you can avoid much of the pesticide and herbicide residue
often found on conventionally grown produce.
Start thinking about your garden now. Sketch a diagram on
paper, and draft a starting line-up.
Put some target dates on the calendar for digging …
and be on the lookout for the first stretch of warm, sunny
days. It’ll be here soon.
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