After spending the weekend at my family farm, I realized it is almost time for fresh vegetables from the garden. Last year, not wanting to manage a big garden, I planted a few peppers, tomatoes and herbs in the flower beds in our backyard. This year we are going to add a few more vegetables, lettuce and green beans (and the vegetables we don’t have planted will come from the best vegetable stand in the Northern Neck, Garner’s Produce).
If you want fresh vegetables, you don’t have to work the fields to get them, just add a few plants in your backyard flower beds. Look for a sunny spot (with six or seven hours of sunlight a day), with good drainage and some room for the plants to grow. If you are working in a big space in your backyard, narrow beds work best so you can reach in to weed and harvest your bounty without walking on the soil.
Once you choose your location, start by preparing the soil. Dig and break up any compacted soil and remove all the debris and weeds. Then add any compost and natural fertilizers to the soil before you plant; just work it in the soil with a rake. Once your soil is ready you can decide what to grow! Think about what you love to eat (lettuce, tomatoes, corn, potatoes, peppers, squash). You can start your vegetables from seeds sown in the soil or buy seedlings from your local nursery. Grow Veg is a great guide on how to plant, how much space to allow and when to harvest (they even have a garden planning tool). Once you get your vegetables in the ground make sure you water consistently, soaker hoses work best to keep roots watered and leaves dry. Then sit back and wait for the fruits of your labor.
This summer it will be more fun to run to the backyard for dinner, instead of running to the grocery store! And remember to support your local farmer by purchasing the rest of your vegetables at local farm stands in your area.
That is an excellent idea! I have done this a few times. Put some Cayenne pepper plants out amongst the Lilies in the south facing lawn and the peppers were very happy there and produced heavily. Anywhere there is full sun most of the day is where vegetables would be happy. And they will be more protected, because some insects target vegetable plants by sight and others by smell. By planting with flowers, you will be effectively confusing the insects that would normally devour the crop.
And don’t forget many flowers are also edible, like Calendula, Nasturtium, and Pansy.
[...] Grow a Small Vegetable Garden– As we have talked about before on this blog, a great way to reduce spending and eat the freshest vegetables is to grow them yourself. Check out our earlier blog post on vegetable gardens. [...]
Tim,
I love your website! The pics are absolutely wonderful and your designs and ideas are gorgeous! I totally agree with you on “the best vegetable stand in the NNK!” I have started to think about some ideas for my yard because things are starting to slow down on the farm and it’s getting cooler and has finally rained. Bernard and I have lived in our new home for almost 3 years and haven’t done much with the yard/landscape, and what I have done I am ready to change. I look at it and think about it a lot but don’t trust myself to make that final decision and do anything. When you get a chance to reply I would love to talk to you about some ideas/quotes and could send you pictures or meet with you when you are back in the area again and have time. Thanks a bunch and hope to see you soon.
Dana
[...] Vegetable and Herb Gardens – design and plant vegetable and herb gardens for your own fresh food. See our earlier post on vegetable gardens. [...]