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Casual Connoisseur
Fun, Food and Dirt
The Basics of Vegetable Gardening
By Krista Carlson
The difference between homegrown and store bought vegetables is tremendous, and few things are more rewarding than biting into a flavor-filled, plump vegetable that's been grown from your own labor and soil. Here you'll find the simple steps to raise a glorious garden of tantalizing eats.
In Southern California we are fortunate to be able to garden virtually year-round. There are numerous crops that fare well in the late summer and into the fall, with the added advantage of encountering fewer weeds in this season. So let's grab our trowels and get to gardening!
There are just a few tools you'll need to get your garden growing. The basic essentials include a trowel, a cultivator, gardening gloves, kneeler pad, soil (of course!), compost or organic fertilizers, a soil test kit, and seeds or young plants.
The growing process can be easy and fun, as long you prepare properly. Shortcuts might work out for you, but if they don't you've lost the season, your resources (seeds, plants and time), and your efforts.
Determine how much space you have. If this is your first garden or if you're concerned about having time to tend it - start small and expand your garden in future seasons. Pick a few things you'll be excited to harvest - vegetables you enjoy eating. Take care to give your plants the appropriate amount of space - you'll find this information on each pack of seeds or the tags for any plants you'll transplant. If you don't have much space or land available for a garden, a few pots and planters can yield a healthy harvest as well.
Your garden needs to be in area with ample sunlight-ideally a spot that gets both early and late sun, has good drainage, and not susceptible to flooding. Beware of planting in rocky or graveled areas. Other soil types can be adjusted, but rocks and gravel will be an unfit garden bed. Choose a spot for your garden before buying seeds and plants so that you know how much space you have. This will help you determine what you're able to grow.
Now it's time to choose your seeds and plants. Again, our fortunate weather conditions grant us a wide variety of options. Be certain you are buying quality seeds (good sources are burpee.com and thompson-morgan.com) and healthy plants if you are transplanting young plants. Some favorites are tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, zucchini, squashes, onions, corn, and peppers. With this assortment you'll be looking forward to a delectable harvest! Consult the seed/plant care information for correct planting time and conditions.
Growing vegetables can be a labor of love. Just like any endeavor of love, it's critical to sow your seeds in fertile ground. Before planting, test the soil for good pH. This is certainly the most technical aspect of your garden, but don't skip it! Good soil yields hearty crops. Use your soil test kit to determine the pH. A pH between 6.0 and 7.0 is ideal; you may need to add sulfur or lime to establish the right balance. Sulfur will lower the pH (making the soil more acidic); lime will raise the pH (making it more alkaline).
The soil should be "sandy loam." Take a handful and squeeze it-if it crumbles when you let go, you'll have good drainage. Clear any rocks and weeds out of the soil, till, and water it. Your veggies will need nutrients to grow well, and these come from soil rich in nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
Top your soil with a compost mulch to provide a steady release of nutrients. Compost is an important addition, as it will retard water loss, prevent the soil from crusting, keep weeds from growing and buffer your crops from adverse shifts in pH. (Look out for next month's feature on cultivating compost).
Have your soil prepared before buying plants so you are ready to transplant them right away.
Take a few minutes to refer to your selections' space and care requirements. Do a sketch of your garden before planting. Arrange plants with similar watering needs near each other, and vines can be placed next to a trellis or fence. If you transplant tomatoes, dig a small trench, lay the plant sideways, and cover it almost entirely to provide a stronger root base and higher yield.
Keep your seeds moist until they germinate. Water your plants as needed; it's best to do this in the morning. Mind that your garden gets plenty of sun. Harvest when ripe and enjoy your bounty!