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So You Want to Grow a Vegetable Garden?

Why everyone from the Italian Grandmother to the American Farmer will say “Do it!”

Growing a vegetable garden can be an additive and extremely awarding process. All types of people from all walks of life grow their own vegetables, and for a variety of reasons. Reasons for starting a garden may be born out of necessity or simply a desire to begin a hobby. Italians especially love growing their own vegetables and herbs. In fact, much of Italian cooking involves recipes with ingredients which can be readily grown in a garden.

Why Grow Your Own Vegetables?

There are many reasons to grow your own vegetables. Some are listed below.

Economical: Buying vegetables from the store can cost far more than cultivating and harvesting your own. The greatest price which you will pay is the time to plant and care for your plants, an investment which can carry an enormous return.

Convenience: This is a huge benefit for many home growers. Don’t have any more cucumbers in the crisper drawer? No problem, just go outside and pick some fresh ones. How about tomatoes? No problem, pick some of those too. This convenience beats going to store only to pay for overpriced vegetables!

Nutrition: Having the ability to properly fertilize and tend to your own soil can provide more nutrient filled and better tasting vegetables you otherwise may not receive. You have more control over the quality of the soil and the compounds which it is fed.

Health/Exercise: Tall, short, big or small, everyone needs to exercise to some degree. A garden provides an enjoyable way to get low impact exercise and all the fresh air you need! It is best to work in the garden when the sun is not at its highest point. This means morning and evening are the recommended times to spend in the garden.

Planning Your Garden – What You Should Consider

There are a few considerations to be taken into account when planning a garden. With careful planning and preparation, you will soon be on your way to growing hearty and healthy vegetables.

Sunlight: Most vegetables require full sunlight for optimal growing conditions. Full sunlight means approximately 8 hours in direct sun. Choose a location which will allow your garden to take full advantage of the day’s sunshine.

Size: Determining the size of your garden is a big part of planning a garden. Sit down and create a list of each vegetable you want to grow. When your list is complete, determine the approximate area required for each plant. For example, if you are growing tomatoes you will want at least 3 feet between each row. Diagram a rough sketch of the layout to help visualize your new garden space. Will it be long and narrow or perfectly square? Will you be planting in rows or in raised bed? Will it be in one area or multiple locations in your yard?

Water: Every plant needs water to survive. Some plants require more than others. It is important to make sure you have a water source accessible for your plants. The most common water source would be through a water hose. Make sure you are able to easily reach the garden with the hose for proper watering.

Convenience: Perhaps you have a wonderful large yard and decide to put your garden at the far end of the yard. Thinking it is out of the way, you might later begin to wonder if it is too far out of the way. Choose a location where you can quickly and easily dash out from the kitchen and grab what you need. Whether it is to grab a few beans for dinner or an extra handful of leaves of lettuce for a last minute salad, having your garden in close proximity is always a plus.

Insects and pests: Not often thought of until after the fact, taking note of where insects and pests reside may save you from future headaches down the road. Avoid placing the garden near areas which may be prone to large infestations of insects. This can cause insects to easily migrate into your new garden and cause destructive damage. For example, avoid putting your garden near wood piles. Firewood can be a great place for ants to live. Water ponds should also be avoided since water attracts mosquitoes. Try to avoid large clusters of trees or bushes. An example would be fruit trees which act as magnets for many types of food eating bugs. Fruit trees will often drop their overripe fruit to the ground which inevitably attracts even more pests. Remember, some insects such as praying mantis and lady bugs eat other bugs. When keeping some bugs out, be careful to keep the right ones in.

Do not be discouraged if you do not have a perfect and ideal location. There are natural ways to help deter insects from encroaching on your garden grounds. Certain types of flowers, herbs and plants act as natural barriers to many plant eating bugs. Examples would be rosemary, mint, basil and even garlic solutions. And as if insects weren’t enough of a problem, rodents can be added into the mix as well, such as rabbits or gophers.

Using good chicken wire will help keep these unwanted neighbors from easily getting into your vegetable haven.
From the humble rural farmer to the busy mom with a tiny back yard, the same motivation from years ago remain the same today – to grow one’s own food to put fresh healthy vegetables on the table. Taking a few lessons from our past, adding in a little patience, and a dash of knowhow, you too will experience the joy of growing your own vegetables.

Complimentary Italian Recipe: Zucchini and Tomato Pasta

This article was contributed by Elizabeth Krause publisher of a website featuring quick and easy Italian recipes. She lives with her husband Frank in Virginia, both of whom grew up in Italian homes where gardening provided much of the food they ate. She enjoys cooking and drinking homemade Italian lattes with her stainless steel stovetop espresso maker – which she learned about on a trip to Italy over a decade ago. She hopes she can help others appreciate the joy of cooking simple meals with simple ingredients – especially when grown in one’s own back yard.

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