6 Things to Know Before You Start Growing Your Own Food
With a little bit of knowledge and a lot of patience you can grow your own food. I have fond memories of going to my Grandparents house and picking fresh food from the garden to eat for dinner. Here are some great tips for growing your own food:
1. Anyone Can Grow Food
If you don’t have a big, sunny backyard, take heart: You can still grow food. A balcony or even a windowsill will work. If your space is shady, most salad greens, and even blueberries, can grow well.
2. Start Small
Gardening is a skill that takes time to learn. If you’re new to growing food, start with just a few potted herbs or one raised bed. Embrace mistakes and don’t beat yourself up if you lose a crop to slugs. Gardening is a forgiving practice: You can always begin again.
3. Good Soil is Key
Don’t expect results from your yard’s existing soil. To grow vegetables, you need rich soil with lots of nutrients.
Before planting anything, get the best soil you can find, preferably organic. If you’re working with a full-size yard, find a soil supplier in your area and arrange a delivery. For container gardens, you’ll want a good-quality potting mix.
To keep your soil fertile year after year, you’ll need to add compost every spring.
4. Gardening Takes Time
You can’t just plant seeds once at the beginning of the year and walk away. Gardens thrive with weekly planting, thinning, weeding, harvesting and pruning, and may need to be watered as often as twice a day if you’re in a hot climate. When planning your garden, take your schedule into account. A full backyard may need up to 10 hours of work a week, while a small balcony can get by with only a couple of hours.
5. You Still Have to Wash Your Vegetables
Even when your crops are pesticide-free, it’s important to wash them thoroughly to remove soil, bacteria and parasites. A big salad spinner will be your best friend
6. You Can Grow a Lot of Food
With just six 8-by-4-foot raised beds in a sunny backyard, you can easily feed a family of four all the kale, tomatoes, carrots and greens you could possibly eat without having to go to the store, plus enough extras to freeze or can for the winter. If your space is smaller, a collection of medium-size planter boxes can keep you supplied with the salads you need.
The benefits of gardening are immense. Growing food is a fascinating hobby, an effective stress reliever and a surprisingly good workout — just watch your back when it comes to digging. Growing a significant portion of the vegetables your family eats, or even all your vegetables, is more attainable than most people realize. By starting small, setting aside time each week for garden maintenance and not getting discouraged if things don’t go perfectly, you’ll be well on your way to garden success.
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