Consider Vegetable Gardening
Is This the Year You Begin?
Yes, I know. It’s snowing. It’s cold and windy. It’s January.
Gardening?
As you may know, I am an avid gardener, have been since I was a teenager, even younger. I will be posting many stories this year that cover the entire gardening process, from selecting seeds, starting seeds, garden preparation, planting, maintenance, harvesting, and fall cleanup.
Maybe this will be the year you decide to take up this wonderful hobby. Or not. Digging in the dirt is fun? All that work? Once you grow your own vegetables, however, you probably will catch the gardening bug.
It’s never too early to start planning for the gardening season. You can start small, it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming project. One good source for seeds and gardening supplies is the Jung Seed Company. They also produce many gardening videos. They provide good information, albeit somewhat quirky. Following is a good one for novice gardeners:
I would recommend starting small. Perhaps a couple of raised beds or even containers on the porch or deck. You don’t have to go big or spend a lot of money to start.
You will have to decide what to grow. Maybe lettuce. How about tomatoes? These both would work in containers. If you’re a newbie, probably best to buy your plants, a good potting soil mix, and plant the containers. Keep it simple. As time goes on you can always venture into starting plants from seed. I normally start lettuce, kale, onions, leeks, and tomatoes from seed. Sometimes peppers. This year I might venture into microgreens. And wait until you hear about winter sowing; planting in containers, they are left out in the snow, and they sprout in the Spring!
As far as soil, you may want to start composting to create “black gold” to enhance your growing medium. I have tried this in the past, but I don’t think I researched it enough at the time for success. I am going to try again this year. Compost adds nutrients and microorganisms to the soil among other benefits.
Following is a video regarding composting:
The stores are already selling seeds and seed starting supplies. Sometimes it seems strange looking at seeds in my coat, hat, and boots. And I get strange looks from others who are buying hats, gloves, snow shovels, and sidewalk salt. Such is the life of a diehard gardener. Spring and summer seem so far removed. But times go fast and the seasons will advance quickly.
The seed catalogs are arriving also as I have written about in a previous story. I always enjoy looking at these for ideas.
Follow along on the journey with me. Pun intended, I hope this has provided some seed for thought.
