Tips for a Glowing, Growing Garden

This year, approximately seven million more households will turn to gardening than in 2008, according to a 2009 report from the National Gardening Association. The report cites that monetary savings has been what has encouraged most people to start gardening, including the Obamas. In late March, Michelle Obama broke ground on the South Lawn of the White House with two dozen local elementary school students to create a 1,100-square-foot garden with 55 types of vegetables.

Most households do not need a garden that large to realize the savings of homegrown vegetables; any size garden will yield a reduction in your grocery bill.

“Even if you just plant a potted herb garden, you can save,” said Heidi Ketvertis, director of marketing communications for Troy-Bilt, a leading manufacturer of outdoor power equipment. “Plus, it’s fun and educational for the kids. Kids love to get dirty and this way, they learn something in the process.”

Troy-Bilt offers a few tips for creating that thriving vegetable garden:

– Research your local average first and last frost dates. Make sure you
don’t plant your vegetables too early, but plan that they also will
have enough time to yield a productive crop.

– Think of the vegetables you buy most at the grocery store and plant
those. Check out the garden center at your local Lowe’s for a variety
of seeds or starter plants if you don’t want to start from scratch.

– Get your soil ready for planting with some basic maintenance.

– If you don’t have the space for a garden, try potting vegetables and
put them near your windows or on the porch. Herb gardens, for example,
can grow beautifully in a sunny area inside your home. You can even
find a local community garden with plots for purchase.

Varieties and Garden Tips
– In northern hardiness zones where summers can be shorter, consider
planting tomato and pepper seeds indoors and then transplanting
seedlings to your outdoor garden.

– Pull weeds when you find them. You don’t want them competing with your
crops for space, water or nutrients.

– Water regularly and deeply because crop yields decrease when plants
don’t receive enough moisture. Reuse the water used to boil pasta and
potatoes. Cool the water, then use on houseplants or the garden.
Plants and vegetables like the starch in the water.

– Harvest ripe vegetables. Some plants, such as peppers and cucumbers,
stop producing if the fruit isn’t picked.

– Water perennial herbs constantly to get them established, then taper
off to an occasional watering. Annual herbs, like basil, require more
evenly moist soil.

– To keep bugs off herbs, grind one garlic clove and mix with one cup of
water. Strain and spray on plants.

(photo credit: Newscom)