Gardening Is Sustainable Fun
This blog post was written by Liluye Staff Writer, Katie Hutchinson, who is a driven and compassionate environmentalist and humanitarian.
As environmental disasters continue to escalate worldwide, it’s no surprise that crops are being damaged in the process. And, veggie and fruit prices are skyrocketing, too, as a result.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the most recent Producer Price Index (PPI) vegetable prices saw a 38% jump in November from October’s prices. The cost of veggies is more than 80% higher compared to November 2021 prices. With all that being said, more people than ever are wondering if this is the time to consider growing their own produce. Not only would they save cash, but they would have a new hobby, create less waste, and cut down on their carbon footprint. But, if you’re asking me, it’s just fun. All the other things are just icing on the cake.
There are two different types of gardening… one from seeds, and the other from planting annuals. The one with sprouting seedlings is a bit more work, but here are a few tips, tricks, and things to consider when getting started on your own garden.
Sun
The first thing you should do is pick the right location. Your veggies are going to want a place with lots of suns. Whether you are digging a hole in the ground, planting in a small pot, or adding it to your flowerbed, you will want to keep an eye on the sun exposure this area gets. If it doesn’t get six to eight hours of sunlight a day, you may want to rethink the location.
Top 10 Easiest Veggies To Grow
• Lettuce
• Green beans
• Radishes
• Tomatoes
• Zucchini
• Peppers
• Beets
• Carrots
• Spinach or kale
• Peas
If you plant any of the above first, you will be growing your own green thumb. And let’s be clear about one thing…just because it’s easy to grow, doesn’t mean you have to plant it! Don’t grow something you wouldn’t eat. This is a common mistake that I’ve made too many times.
Planting Season
Depending on your location, you may have different growing seasons or seasons in general that impact your garden. Veggies, like lettuce and broccoli, grow better in cooler weather (spring and fall). While tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers thrive in hotter months.
If you want to know more about your specific region, check out the Farmers Almanac, the bible of farming.
Soil
Whether you decide to plot a 10×10′ garden behind the house, raise beds that are easy to contain, or use a few small pots to fill with your favorite easy-to-grow veggies, you’ll need to have good soil. There are plenty of places you can purchase soil, but know that just because you throw a seed into the dirt and splash water on it occasionally, doesn’t mean that you’ll see results.
Try adding organic material such as manure or topsoil and/or learn how to add your own compost to soften it up, to create a perfect texture. The perfect texture is when you’re able to make a ball and it crumbles under pressure.
Things to Consider
Even though most veggies are annuals (planted each year), if you’re planning on growing perennials (plants that come back each year) consider creating some permanent locations for those. Rhubarb, berries, kale, and garlic are a few perennial examples while peppers, carrots, and tomatoes are annuals. Also, if you don’t want all your tomatoes to be ready at the same time, consider stagger plantings by planting them at different weeks in an assigned row or space.
While gardening may seem intimidating at first, it’s pretty straightforward and easy to understand, especially if you take one step at a time. And, when you take a bite of that tomato you’ve been watching grow for weeks, nothing tastes better.
Post Sources
• Producer Price Index News Release summary. Date: December 9, 2022. Written by: The U.S. Department of Labor. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
great tips.
Thank you!!