Design a Diversified Garden

With a little research and planning, you can grow a personalized plot of fruits, vegetables, and herbs to match your family's needs and tastes.

By Kristi Cook
Updated on October 8, 2021
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by AdobeStock/Brent Hofacker

Most farmers and other self-sufficient folks agree that a garden is central to self-reliance. And nowadays, with COVID-19 restrictions and shortages firmly cemented into many of our psyches, even more people are realizing this truth. But, how do you get started? Which vegetables and fruits should you choose? How big should the garden be? Let’s explore these questions as they pertain to each individual seeking a better way to secure their family’s food sources.

Instead of only growing the usual staple crops, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and okra, think outside the proverbial gardening box. A diversified garden is loaded with as many varieties as the gardener can manage in order to provide a diversified offering of produce to meet their family’s needs.

How and Where to Start

If you’re reading this publication, you’ve already taken your first step: seeking knowledge. A diversified, self-sufficient garden varies from person to person. A family of four living in the country will develop a different garden than a single person living in an apartment complex. Yet, both types of individuals are more than capable of growing a diversified garden with a few minor – and major – tweaks.

To get started, seek out local gardeners through the Master Gardener program, gardening clubs, friends, neighbors, and even your local farmers market vendors. These folks can tell you which crops grow best in your region, approximate planting and harvesting dates, how best to preserve your excess harvest, and where to find further sources of information. They’re often the best sources to start with, because they’re local to you and are familiar with your particular USDA Plant Hardiness Zone, and all the nuances and quirks specific to your region.

Once you have an idea of what can grow in your area, seek out trustworthy publications that are filled with information from experts across the nation who can also guide you on how to best grow various crops, how to set up a garden via soil testing, and more.

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