You can hear more and more people talking about the importance of knowing where your food comes from and how to grow your own food. This understanding can help you become more environmentally conscious, live more sustainably, avoid pesticides in your produce, and save money on food.
Think of it this way: when you buy fruit and vegetables in a supermarket, you are supporting a production chain that consists of transporting products from one end of the world to the other, creating greenhouse gas emissions. But just as you can eat sustainable fish and seafood to live a greener lifestyle, you can also learn how to grow sustainable food. When you grow your own food and eat it in season, you are living a sustainable lifestyle and doing good for the planet.
Even if there are factors out of your control (like the weather) that you need to learn about gardening, don't let them defeat you. "Gardening is like a science project," says Diane Blazek, executive director of the National Bureau of Horticulture. "This will take some trial and error, and mistakes are okay!" That's the best way to learn."
Grow your own food at home
If you've never gardened before, growing your own food can be both fun and scary. Planting seeds requires knowledge, time and a lot of patience. But the good news is that whether you have a large yard or a small balcony, you can grow your own fruits and vegetables. (You can even grow your own mushrooms!)
The best way to start is to choose vegetables and fruits that you like and know when they are in season. "Grow what you want to buy at the grocery store," says Alison Seeb, manager of horticultural products and operations at Takii Europe. "There's a world of plants. Start with what you like."
If you're feeling overwhelmed or just want to garden, learn how to grow your own herbs. They are low maintenance and a great way to start playing in the ground for a comfortable gardener.
The benefits of growing your own food
There are many reasons to consider growing your own food. Here are some of the benefits of having a patio or potted garden.
Good for the environment
Fruits and vegetables are seasonal, but grocery stores sell almost anything under the sun year-round, which means a lot of produce has to be shipped around the world. All these types of transport have a negative impact on the environment.
“Why buy it at the grocery store where the vegetables are grown hundreds of miles away? - said Zib. Reduce climate problems and reduce your carbon footprint by eating seasonal foods and trying to grow your own produce.
No pesticides
One of the main benefits of learning to grow organic food is avoiding chemical pesticides that are harmful to the body and can end up in water and soil. Fortunately, you don't need chemicals to grow fruits and vegetables in your garden. "They are easy to grow organically, which reduces the amount of synthetic fertilizers in the diet," says Blazek.
When you grow your own food, you have quick and easy access to home produce. "You eat more vegetables than you grow, so hopefully if you choose them fresh and easy, you'll get more vegetables into your daily diet," says Blazek.
Added bonus: With these fresh and delicious produce, you can reduce food waste, which is good for your wallet and the planet.
You will eat healthier and more nutritious food
Local produce is tastier and more nutritious because you're harvesting and eating it at its peak, which means you have to enjoy it. "The product stays on the plant until it ripens, increasing its nutritional value and flavor," says Bonnie Plants horticulturist Amy Enfield. "Most produce found in grocery stores is selected unripe for successful delivery and maximum shelf life."
This will save you money
Growing your own food is one way to save on rising fruit and vegetable prices. A packet of seeds usually costs between $2 and $4 and contains many seeds. Considering a head of lettuce costs $2 at the grocery store, that's a lot. For about the same price, you can buy a bag of lettuce seeds and plant for a few weeks for a steady harvest all season long.
If you participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), you can even use your earnings to buy edible seeds and plants to plant in your garden.
What are the disadvantages of growing your own food?
Although maintaining a vegetable garden has many advantages, it is not without its drawbacks. These four are the biggest complaints home gardeners cite when discussing the disadvantages of growing your own food.
It takes time
Gardens need love and tender care to flourish. You need to find time to grow your own food. "Gardens take time. "You can't build a garden and forget about it," Enfield said. "It will require watering, fertilizing, weeding, pest and disease control, and will be harvested when the vegetables are ripe."
While it's easy to be romantic about gardening and growing your own food, you have to be patient. Plants take time to grow, flower and bear fruit. "You can't plant seeds today and harvest them next week if you don't have microgreens," says Blazek.
You need at least some space
Vegetable gardens need space, especially for summer crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers and summer squash. But even if you don't have a big yard, there are ways to garden.
Wondering how to grow food in an apartment or on a windowsill? Grow it in containers! "If space is limited, many vegetables, especially compact varieties, can be grown in large pots filled with potting soil on a sun deck or patio," says Enfield.
It will be charged
Gardening is not a free hobby. "While you save money on produce, starting a vegetable garden requires upfront costs for plants, materials and equipment," says Enfield.
You won't need many garden tools, but you will need to buy soil and compost (if you can compost yourself), as well as seeds or plants.
You are at the mercy of Mother Earth
When you start a vegetable garden, you will quickly understand the importance of climate and the importance of the seasons. That and the fact that you have no control over the weather. "You are in the world of Mother Earth," Blazek said. "This determines how much rain will fall and the temperature. Therefore, work with it and treat it properly when planting, watering and fertilizing."
Things to consider before growing your own food
You grow fruits and vegetables. You like to be dirty. But before you (literally) dig in, consider a few things that will determine the growth of your garden.
the sun
When deciding where to plant your garden, consider where the sunlight hits your balcony, patio, yard or windows. Your plants need plenty of sun for a healthy and thriving garden.
"Look at the amount of sunlight coming from different areas of your yard/garden," says Blazek. "The rule of thumb is to make sure it gets six [preferably eight] hours of sun a day to have the healthiest and most productive garden."
Depending on the vegetables you grow, you may get less sun. "Some vegetables tolerate partial sun [four to six hours of direct sunlight], such as broccoli, peas, chickpeas, onions, cabbage, beets and carrots," says Enfield.
Climate
If you want to have a successful garden, you need to know your USDA climate zone or hardiness zone. This will determine what and when you can grow. In addition, not all types of plants are suitable for cultivation in all geographical areas.
"The USDA has established hardiness zones across the country to notify people of below-average temperatures in their area," said gardener, writer and senior editor Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp. "Hardiness zones and average dates of first and last frost are mentioned in many planting guides, for example [recommended] to sow seeds outside two weeks after the last frost."
You also need to know how long it will take the plant to grow from seed to fruit or harvest so you have enough time to grow and plan accordingly. If any of this seems overwhelming, know that it requires some forethought. "Take watermelon, for example," Blazek said. "If maturity is 80 days and the first frost is on October 15, you can't plant in mid-August and expect to get melons before frost."
Land security
Soil is the main element of your garden. Your plants will not only grow here, but also receive most of its nutrients. That's why it's so important to know what's in your soil. "If it's going to be planted in the ground, a soil test is a must," says Blazek.
A soil test, which can be purchased at your local garden center or nursery, will detect whether the soil contains lead or other toxins. You will need to draw up a plan for underground plantings and consider raised beds or containers if appropriate. This test also tells you which nutrients are missing so you can supplement them.
Blazek compared the soil test to the health test. “Think of your floor as your body. He needs food, but maybe the right food/nutrition,” he said. "Without proper health screenings, you won't know what [nutrients] you need and don't need."
Soil rich in organic matter
Once you know what's in your soil and what you need to add, you can start learning the difference between clay and nutrient soil. "Take the dirt in your hands and roll it between your fingers. If it's dark and rotten, there's usually a ton of organic matter in there," says Zeeb. Next, you may need to add some organic ingredients to get your veggies off to a good start.
Seasonal
We may be used to getting the fruits and vegetables we want at the grocery store, but when you grow your own food, you quickly realize that not everything grows year-round.
"Gardens are seasonal," says Enfield. Knowing the difference between warm and winter vegetables is helpful when planning your garden. As a general rule, consider the recommendations when planning any type of vegetable.
- Early to mid-spring: winter vegetables such as carrots, radishes, lettuce, spinach, broccoli and kale
- Late spring and early summer: warm-season vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, eggplants, and cucumbers
- Late summer to early fall: Lots of winter vegetables
"Understand your growing zone and climate," says Seeb. "Not all factories operate in all states or all year round."
When is the harvest?
One of the best parts of growing a vegetable garden is reaping the rewards in the harvest. If you grow from seed or buy seedlings or flowering plants, you will know what plants to grow and how long it will take to grow before harvest. The best time to harvest depends on the plant, so check the seed packet or planting instructions that come with the seeds.
The tools you need to grow your own food
Gardening doesn't require a lot of equipment, but there are some tools that can come in handy. The tools you'll need will also depend on the size and type of garden you're growing - whether you're growing your garden in containers or underground is important.
garden gloves
Blazek says getting your nails dirty is an honor, but hard to let go of. "[Buy] a pair of waterproof but breathable gardening gloves," says Enfield. "Not only do they help keep your hands clean, they also protect against scratches."
Scissors or garden shears
"They are useful for cutting plants and picking fruit [such as eggplant, cucumber and peppers] without damaging the rest of the crop," says Enfield. Blazek adds that they are useful for "seasonal maintenance and harvesting large quantities of vegetables."
shoulder blade
"It's designed to break up small pieces of soil, dig planting holes and pull out weeds," explains Blazek. Enfield also uses a hand spade when planting seedlings.
Watering can or watering can
Depending on the size of your garden, you may need a watering can or sprinkler to direct water to the base of your plants. Enfield says, “Plants should be watered with a 'soft shower' to avoid damage and over compacting the soil.
wheelbarrow
For larger gardens, you may need larger tools, and a wheelbarrow can make gardening smoother and easier. Enfield recommends using one to move soil, compost, mulch or other large items.
fork shovel
Enfield says the tool is useful for turning and breaking up soil, and adding compost to the soil. However, this is not necessary unless you have a larger garden.
Shovel
If you're working on a large area, take a spade or spade (like a spade with a flat square tip) to dig holes, trim edges, or move some soil, Enfield says.
garden hoe
Larger gardens can benefit from using cultivators, which Enfield says are "good for making shallow trenches when planting seeds or weeding gardens".
Which product is easiest for a beginner gardener?
When you're just starting out, it's natural to want to develop little by little. But some vegetables are easier to grow than others. "The easiest foods to grow for beginners are lettuce, spinach, kale and other leafy greens," says Sharpe. "And it's easy to grow these foods in containers in yards, yards, porches, anywhere."
Zib also considers beans an easy plant to grow. "They grow in compact plants, so they don't need stakes, stakes and cages," he says. "Just plant it and the beans will be ready to eat in seven to eight weeks."
Do you want to plant? These are the fastest growing plants from seed to harvest with an approximate growth length:
- Bit: about 25 days
- Bush beans: about 50 days
- Cabbage: about 40 days
- Lettuce: about 40 days
- Radish: about 50 days
- Garlic: about 30 days
- Spinach: about 30 days
- Zucchini: about 50 days
Green your life
Now that you know how to grow your own food at home, you may want to consider investing in a compost bin and creating a compost pile to improve your vegetable patch. Once everything is planted, you can watch it grow and change before it's time to reap and harvest.
If you want to learn more about green living and reducing your impact on the environment, read about water recycling (the right way) and how to save water, important topics for anyone who regularly uses water in their garden.
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