Cooperative Living May 2021 - 30

GreenThumb | by Pamela A. Keene, Contributing Writer
The Fun of Food Gardening
Whether you have a multiple-acre plot or a patio,
you can grow your own vegetables
W
ith a little bit of know-how
and a sunny place, enjoying
the bounty of your own labors
can be fun, rewarding and tasty.
" There are so many reasons to grow
your own vegetables and the flavors
are ever so much better than storebought, "
says Joe Lamp'l, founder
of joegardener.com and host of the
nationally syndicated " Growing a
Greener World, " which airs on public
television in all 50 states. " Money can't
buy the kind of taste you get fresh from
the garden or the satisfaction of knowing
you're eating what you've grown. "
SUNLIGHT, SOIL AND WATER
Three components are vital to
successful vegetable gardening: sunlight,
soil and water.
" Choose your spot carefully to have
plenty of sunlight, at least six hours a day, "
Lamp'l says. " Look for a place that's not
obstructed by trees or other buildings. "
Many gardeners build raised beds.
By elevating the growing area off the
ground, it's easier to plant, tend and
harvest with less bending or squatting.
" Most people choose wood to
Joe Lamp'l, host of a popular
TV show, displays his gardening
practices.
Sunlight, soil
and water are
vital to successful
vegetable
gardening.
construct raised beds, but be sure to
consider the size, " Lamp'l says. " Use
2-by-12-inch boards to build a bed that
your space can accommodate. Be sure
to make it about 3 feet wide to give
good access from all sides. "
The soil in your garden is crucial
for good production, and with raised
beds you have more control over the
composition of the soil, the nutrients
and the quality. Cheaper is not better,
Lamp'l says.
Make sure a good water source is
nearby to avoid constantly moving
hoses back and forth throughout the
growing season.
" Don't water just because it's a
certain day of the week, because you
run the risk of overwatering, " he says.
" Check the moisture level of the soil,
and water accordingly, allowing enough
flow to soak the ground. Then wait until
the top inch or so of the soil feels dry
before watering again. "
SEEDS OR SEEDLINGS
Summer vegetables, such as tomatoes,
eggplant and peppers, are generally easier
to grow from seedlings, which can be
purchased at a local nursery or box
retailer. Look for healthy plants with
several sets of leaves. They can be
planted in the garden after the date of
the last frost in your area.
" If you want to start from seeds,
back up your indoor starting time to
have nice-sized seedlings by the ideal
planting time for your region, " Lamp'l
says. " I'm a big proponent of starting
vegetable seeds indoors about six to
eight weeks before planting, but you
will need the proper light setup and
the commitment to manage the process
from seeds to moving the seedlings
into the garden. "
Once the soil warms up, beans,
squash and cucumbers are easy to
plant directly in the garden. Their
germination time is fairly quick. Be
sure to purchase seeds packaged for
the current year by finding the date
stamp on the package and follow
planting instructions.
28 | Cooperative Living | May 2021
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PHOTO COURTESY JOEGARDENER.COM
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Cooperative Living May 2021

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