It is first week of February and I am really missing my fresh vegetables from my garden. If you’re a gardener you are probably missing them too; if you’re not a gardener, you should consider becoming one. You may think growing a vegetable garden is a difficult task that will take a lot of time, but it’s not true. Growing vegetables is easy; you simply need a sunny spot in your yard with full sun, six or more hours a day of sunshine, fertilizer, and water sometimes, depending on your climate. It won’t take a ton of your time either, by doing a little bit each day or every couple of days, it is easy. It is kind of like laundry, do a little each day, no worries, but let it pile up for a week and then it’s a job. With a 16-by-16-foot garden plot, you probably would only need to spend about an hour a week total, keeping it watered, weeded and harvested, not bad for the vegetables you will receive, in return for your minimal effort.
Cauliflower is easy to grow, grows best when planted early in the spring while it is still cool.
A vegetable garden will benefit you in many ways. You will have an abundance of fresh vegetables, getting outside working in the dirt is a good stress reliever, you can choose to grow pesticide-free vegetables, and you will be a more self-reliant and less dependent on grocery stores. There is nothing like going to your garden and picking your own vegetables. I call it “going to my garden store.” It thrills me to go to my garden and swoop up an armful or fresh vegetables for a wonderful fresh salad or hearty soup.
Onions are easy to grow and are great in soups.
Growing your own foods is “you” doing your tiny part to contribute to the worlds food supply. If you produce food, it means there will be more food available, and more food available means more people will have food to eat. I have often pondered that concept; what if all the people who have the space for a garden took advantage of that garden spot and planted a garden? Wouldn’t that be a great way to add to our world’s food supply that would feed more people?
Homegrown sweet corn is succulent right off the cob.
Another benefit when you grow your own vegetables, you tend to eat more vegetables, which potentially makes you healthier and feel better. Convenience is a plus too, just go out to your backyard and grab whatever vegetables you need for dinner. Growing your own vegetables can save you money too, buying plants and seeds are relatively cheap compared to the rising costs of vegetables, especially organic vegetables.
Tomatoes are fun to grow, there are so many different types to enjoy.
Gardening is my passion “wow,” just throw a few seeds into the dirt and produce, delicious fresh vegetables; that never ceases to amaze me. I love watching them grow from seed to harvest. However, my passion gets a little carried away sometimes, like planting 23 different kinds of tomatoes and 300 pepper plants, like I did last year. My family just rolls their eyes and chuckles, saying something like, “no, not again, Mom,” However, they support my garden addiction, pitching into help me plant, weed and harvest as we go through the summer.
Gardening is a family affair; we work and have fun together in the garden. We have our big garden events, planting the potatoes, harvesting all the tomatoes and peppers before a frost, picking the sweet corn and freezing it for winter, and digging potatoes. These are garden projects that we always work together to complete. They give us wonderful family memories of the time spent in the garden. How come everyone doesn’t grow a garden or grow at least one vegetable or herb? Think about it and give it a try this next spring. Grow a vegetable, herb or plant a small garden, grow something to eat, you surely will enjoy it.
Japanese eggplant is delicious grilled and put over rice.
Biggee Chile Peppers are great grilled and tossed in with tomatoes.
Homegrown popcorn is the best tasting popcorn!
Flowering Kale is pretty and can be eaten in soups and salads.
