| nly thing that distinguishes a kitchen vegetable garden | | | | versatile (tomato juice, sauces, salsas, or simply eaten |
| from any other sort is that the garden plants are | | | | fresh), the plants alone can significantly augment your |
| specifically selected to be eaten. Given that, the | | | | diet while being kind to your pocket book. The volume |
| primary consideration in choosing your plants is what | | | | you produce will also make it easy to share with family |
| you will use, either for your own consumption or as | | | | and friends or to trade your tomatoes at a |
| trade items at a local farmer’s market. (Of | | | | farmer’s market for other kinds of vegetables. |
| course the climate in your area and the length of the | | | | (Pepper plants are equally hardy and prolific.) |
| growing season are also major factors.) | | | | Other garden staples to consider include: |
| Your primary goals are to save money, to provide | | | | • Lettuce, which naturally compliments the |
| yourself with a healthy source of fresh food, and to | | | | tomatoes. |
| have some fun in the process. There’s nothing | | | | • Carrots. |
| quite as satisfying as seeing something you’ve | | | | • Okra and eggplant, which are well suited for |
| grown with your own hands on your dinner table. But | | | | small “left over” spaces. |
| how to start? | | | | • Herbs, which are excellent for spicing dishes, |
| Where to Plant Your Garden | | | | a fragrant addition to your yard, and often a natural |
| Obviously you can only use the land available to you, if | | | | insect repellant. Good herb choices include: anise, |
| there is any, or you can augment what space you | | | | coriander, dill, fennel, and perennials like thyme, oregano, |
| have with containers. Figure out how much room your | | | | chives, tarragon, sage, and rosemary. |
| plug plants will need and plan accordingly. Tomatoes | | | | If you don’t plant any other herbs, go with the |
| and peppers grow to a large size and do quite well in | | | | rosemary. It’s incredibly hardy, smells wonderful, |
| containers with cages for stabilization. Carrots and | | | | is excellent for cooking meats, and can even be dried |
| lettuce, on the other hand, do well planted in rows. | | | | into potpurri. |
| If you or someone you know is handy with tools and if | | | | How to Tend Your Garden |
| you have access to a little lumber and some screening | | | | Frankly, the biggest investment you will most likely |
| material to use in the base of the boxes for drainage, | | | | spend on your garden won’t be monetary, but |
| you can use terraced, graduated beds and plant | | | | will rather be a commitment in time planting, weeding, |
| stands to squeeze in as much growing room as | | | | and watering. When you purchase your plants, discuss |
| possible. Pick a place with plenty of sun that is well | | | | their needs with the nursery staff. It’s always a |
| drained. Herbs, for instance, take six to eight hours of | | | | good idea to select things with similar watering |
| sun per day. | | | | requirement or to arrange your garden in such a way |
| Your soil will need to be well turned and most likely | | | | that segments can be watered separately, with some |
| enriched with a good quality bedding soil available from | | | | areas receiving more and others less. Learn what |
| your local plant nursery. Make sure that the soil your | | | | insects are likely to damage your plants, how to watch |
| purchase is appropriate for the plants you’ve | | | | for them, and what to do when they show up. (You |
| selected. Talk with the staff at the nursery and they | | | | don’t want to just use any insecticide on your |
| will help you select the right materials as well as any | | | | garden. Remember, you’re going to be eating |
| fertilizers that might be necessary based on your soil | | | | these plants!) |
| type. (It’s not a bad idea to take in a small | | | | In most cases it’s a good idea to start small |
| sample of soil for their examination.) | | | | and to add to and expand your garden in subsequent |
| What to Plant in Your Garden | | | | growing seasons as you get more comfortable |
| If you want to start small and get a lot of bang for | | | | selecting and caring for your plants. You’ll have |
| your buck, begin with tomatoes. A single plant can | | | | some failures; everyone does, it’s just part of |
| produce more than 100 lbs. of tomatoes over a | | | | the process. But you’ll also augment your diet |
| growing season, an estimate that is actually on the low | | | | with healthy, fresh food, cut down on your grocery bill, |
| side. Since tomatoes in the store average 1-2£ | | | | and create a fun activity for your family or for yourself |
| ($2-4 USD) per pound and because they are so | | | | (and get some exercise in the process. |