First Time Gardener? Step Right Up, Get Your Expert Advice Here
(Page 2 of 4)
Feb. 29, 2008
By Tabitha Alterman
Roger Doiron is the founder of Kitchen Gardeners International, a Kellogg Food and Society Policy Fellow, and author of our upcoming feature on harvesting wild dandelions (also in the April/May issue). He offers this guidance: 'Start small and scale up as you encounter success. Start by planting things you like to eat (that will motivate you to do more later). Understand the space requirements of each plant before putting seeds and seedlings in the ground.'
RELATED CONTENT
Lifestyles Food Digest...
Food Co-ops: Good Food and Good Prices September/October 1979 A "New Wave" of grocery outlets can g...
CITY FOOD/COUNTRY FOOD February/March 1998 By Joe Novara Maybe food really should be shrink-wrapped...
If passed, the 'National Uniformity for Food Act' will undermine approximately 200 state food safet...
UN food agency says 1 billion people hungry, poor paying more for food despite recession...
Garden photographer David Cavagnaro, co-author of The Complete Vegetable and Herb Gardener and Heirloom Vegetables, offers the following advice:
1. Gardens are, above all else, SOIL. So study your soils, even do some simple testing, look for the best soils on the property which also have the most full-sun and well-drained exposure.
2. Talk to your neighbors. Find out what their successes and failures have been, what crops and varieties do best in your area.
3. Start small, with the crops you know you like the best and eat the most of, so as not to be overwhelmed, then gradually expand year by year. Remember, a small handful of seeds expands into more work than you might imagine!
William D. Adams, co-author of The Southern Kitchen Garden, has this to say:
1. The garden needs to be located in full sun, if possible. Fruiting crops, such as tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash, demand it. Root crops like radishes are more shade tolerant and leafy vegetables like lettuce will grow with even more shade.
2. Locate the garden where you have good drainage and good soil. Sandy loam is best and easy to work with but if you don't have good soil consider raised beds or container gardening. Even if you have heavy clay, when it is amended with 4 to 6 inches of compost, it becomes a good soil that can be worked up into ridges ? a foot or so high ? with the plants/seeds planted on the ridge for improved drainage.
3. Plant high value crops that you and your family really like. Don't overdo it, though, and check with your local cooperative extension office for a list of recommended varieties.
