Get Started Growing something!
You know that feeling when you are walking through the farmers market and they don’t have any more Scotts Bonnett Peppers. You should not get upset because you knew early Feburary you wanted some and those pots you have outside are just the things to get you there. Spring is closer than you think are if you are like me and get mad because you didn’t plan ahead I am here to help you. No matter what you craving is if it grows in the ground you can do it yourself.
1. Is my dirt good enough?
God made dirt. Dirt don’t Hurt. Put it in your mouth and let it work.
If you want it to grow you have to have good dirt. When I first started working in the garden years ago on my own, I thought that I had grass and grass can grow. I was WRONG. Different Vegetables pull different minerals and things from the dirt so just because you see grass doesn’t necessarily mean you can grow Eggplants. Not that you want to grow Eggplants. Whatever you get my point.
You will want to do these things to make sure your dirt. The one you have in the ground is good to go.
- Test Your Soil – You would want to test the Ph of the soil. You can get kits from you local stores, Amazon, or some cool at-home methods.
- Enrich It – After you get the testing back you might need to add something to the soil.
- Loosen It Up – Now time to bring out the tiller. Mix it all up.
2. What should I grow? I don’t know grow what you like.
When its that time of year you know what the deal is. Super Bowl, bowl is a round dish, whats also a dish a flower pot. What grows in Pots. Plants grows in Pots. And who loves Plants.. You Love Plants. Easy to remember if you love plants order your seeds. Its super easy to remember to order your seeds around the super bowl.
Herbs – Basil, cilantro, rosemary, and thyme.
Based on my none expert opinion herbs are pretty easy to grow. Maybe even to easy to grow to be honest. Make sure that you grow what you like because I am sure that once it starts you are going to be looking for people to give it away to.
- Greens – Spinach, kale, and arugula for fresh salads.
Very simple to grow. The Problem that I always run into with planting greens and such is thinning. It is very important to thin out the veggies so they can get to the size that you need them to be.
- Veggies – Tomatoes, peppers, carrots, and zucchini.
My favorite gifts of the garden. I call them gifts because once they start growing if you make sure they are watered and such you will wake up every morning looking for these little gifts until the end of the season. Cucumbers and Peppers are my favorites. I love to grow them and bring them in the house and say out loud. FREE VEGGIES!!!
- Fruits – Strawberries and small fruit bushes like blueberries.
Check seed catalogs or online retailers for heirloom varieties and organic options.
I grew strawberries, watermelons and cantalopes last year. Sad story… I will talk about this in another post. Just make sure you water the,m
3. What can I grow my garden in?
My grandfather had a saying. “G’Rome, hold what you got.” Now being a country boy it very easy to take sayings from people and apply it to whatever is going on at that moment. For example when people ask me what should they do about their limited space. I say hold what you got which means. Don’t go buy stuff you don’t need. Use what you already have. Got old flower pots use them . Amazon boxes, use anything before you know it you would have spent 400 dollars for a tomato. Don’t do that. If you even need set a budget of 50 dollars and see what happens. You can learn so next season you can go even hardware.
Some things I have used in the past.
- Use untreated wood, bricks, or galvanized metal for durability.
- Aim for a 4×8 ft size, about 12 inches deep—plenty of room for root growth. I did mine deeper though I will show you how I did mine later.
- Fill with a mix of compost, topsoil, and organic matter for nutrient-rich planting beds.
4. It is still cold outside can I start growing now?
Yes. Grow something. Those Herbs that I talked about earlier you can grow some of those in the house. For Transplants like waterMelons and peppers you can start inside and move them outside when the temperature is right.
Somethings you can do while you are waiting is listed below.
- Map out where each crop will go using companion planting Like growing basil near tomatoes will help with pest control. They ate my plants up last year because i did not do this.
- Start indoor seedlings (like tomatoes and peppers) in seed trays with grow lights. To be even more honest grow lights are cool but all you need is some cheap lights they work just as well
- Set up a watering system—soaker hoses or drip irrigation save time and save you from being sad when your older brother forget to water you watermelons for a week straight in the hottest time of the year when you on your 10 year anniversary and you say Sly can you help. LOL. automatic watering is helpful. I still love my brother but when it comes to my plants. He is banned.
5. Think About All the Food You Can Cook!
The most beautiful thing about starting a garden is that is starts so much creative juices.
- Salsas & Sauces – Fresh tomatoes, onions, peppers, and cilantro.
- Grilled Dishes – Homegrown zucchini, eggplant, and peppers.
- Refreshing Drinks – Mint for mojitos or basil for infused water.
- Homemade Soups – Fresh carrots, garlic, and herbs for stock.
- Salads & Bowls – A mix of greens, cucumbers, and radishes.
6. WHY SHOULD I GROW MY OWN FOOD.
It taste better. Is it true? I don’t know but try it out and let me know what you think
- Better Taste & Nutrition – Fresher than anything store-bought because farm-to-table is outside to kitchen that quick.
- Saves Money – No need to pay premium prices for organic produce. But if you want put a sticker on them and each time you pick something send something to a charity or your savings account and watch it grow literally `
- Self-Sufficiency – Control over what you eat, no pesticides or additives. Unless you want to add But Brawndo’s got what plants crave. It’s got electrolytes.
- Satisfying & Therapeutic – Gardening reduces stress and connects you to nature. When I am sad. I walk through the garden. When I am happy I walk through the garden
Conclusion
Just do it. Not Nike but grow your garden now. Don’t wait