10 April 2009
Starting Your Own Garden, Part I
Posted by admin under: Gardening; Healthy Eating; Locally Grown; Organic .
Recently a friend emailed me for some help on getting a small garden started. As I was replying with a ridiculously long email, I thought it would make a good series of blog posts too. So if you’ve ever wanted to start a garden but didn’t know where to begin, this is for you!
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Finding Your Zone
First, you need to find out what planting zone you are in. Here is a map that will give you an idea.
Depending on the zone in which you live, the growing season will be longer or shorter, and certain plants may fare better or worse. I live in Zone 5, which is pretty much an average zone.
Once you know approximately how long your growing season is (basically, the length of time between estimated last frost in Spring and first frost in Autumn) you can choose what plants will work in your area. Any reputable seed company will list approximate growing times for the plants they carry.
Choosing Your Seeds
It seems like there are around half-a-billion seed companies out there (a bit of hyperbole, perhaps). A lot depends on whether or not you are concerned about what types of plants you grow. There are 3 main types that I’ve found:
Heirloom: an heirloom variety is any variety that has been preserved, mostly unchanged, for at least 50 years. Heirlooms are important because they help to preserve genetic diversity (the more varieties available, the greater the diversity). Some places, but not all, test some of their seeds for GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) genes.
Organic: The term organic has, unfortunately, recently become a media buzzword, just like “green”. Basically organic means produced without any harmful chemical pesticides or fertilizers, and also produced using sustainable growing methods. Organic also means non-GMO.
Conventional: Standard seeds you can buy in any hardware or big-box store (like Walmart or Ace). Typically some form of hybrid (not all hybrids are bad; it only gets bad when the hybrid is all that’s left in the world) and rarely organic.
I plant only organic and heirloom varieties, both to preserve genetic diversity, and because I believe that they are safer for my family. And honestly, they taste better too, regardless of what Monsanto-sponsored scientists want you to think! Buying organic produce in the store, or even at the farmer’s market, can be pricey. It is MUCH more cost-effective to grow your own!! For example, a packet of conventional corn seed may run around $2 - $2.50, while a packet of organic seed costs around $3. The same savings typically apply no matter what you want to grow. Organic plants are more labor-intensive, though (which we’ll cover later).
In Part II, we’ll take a look at some places to buy seed and some things to think about when planning the size of your garden.
