Let's Talk Gardens

We've talked about setting up your kitchen, your household inventory, buying in bulk versus single meat purchases. We've also talked about making homemade vs. buying boxed foods, and so much more. Now we're going to really get into the dirty side of frugal living - gardening. 

Although gardening is a dirty job, it has tremendous rewards. It's never too late to start a garden, and even though we're going into July, you can still start a small garden to help cut the cost of that food bill. Let's start with some of the basics.

Initially, the first year it will cost you a little more than you would spend at the grocery store, but in the long run, you'll save tons of money. If you don't have the proper tools, such as shovels, tiller, rake, garden stakes, seeds, growing enhancement products, you'll have to buy them. However, if you do have these things handy in the shed, then all you need is will-power and a good back, because a garden is a serious labor intensive workout time. If you're living in an apartment or condo with a patio that has full sun, follow along, I'll be giving you tips to help you start your garden too.

For the homeowners: Best way to start your garden is to find a patch of space in your yard that has full sun throughout the day.  Remove all grass, rocks, debris that is covering the area. Then till the earth with either a shovel, making sure to break up all lumps (the soil must be able to easily fall through your fingers like fine sand when done), or buy an inexpensive tiller to help you break up that soil. If you have clay, you'll need to add both fresh soil and sand to the area, to ensure good growing capability. Once you've gotten the hard work done, it's time to plan that garden.

Utilize your local library for gardening books in order to learn the proper care, management and design of your garden. Visit your local nursery and pick the brain of that horticulturalist onsite to help you learn about your specific area, and what grows best. Don't be afraid to say, I'm new at this, I need your help. They relish teaching new gardeners the right way to do it so they don't get discouraged. 

Divide your garden into two sections - herbs and veggies. Consider what you eat before planting. Why plant eggplant if you don't like eggplant. Most gardeners plant the basic vegetables: tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, radishes, and peas. If you love salads, try growing leaf lettuce, spinach and maybe Mache. For herbs, be sure to plant what you use: basil, oregano, dill, chives, parsley, bay leaf, Rosemary, Thyme, cilantro, maybe a little fennel too.  Remember all herbs can be dried and saved for winter use, so plan for that along the way.

For the Condo/Apartment gardeners:  Pots of all different shapes and sizes can be useful in planting what you wish to grow, but remember to stake your plants to ensure they grow tall, rather than wide. You can purchase plants at your local nursery or store this time of year to help get you started, just be sure to water them often to ensure good growth. Do not crowd the pot with a lot of plants, they need room to grow. You can also grow smaller versions of herbs on your kitchen counter, as long as you have enough daylight to help them grow.  One condo grower uses metal shelves with heating mats under their seedlings, along with those long ceiling lamps to give them enough light for growth during the winter. But since we are in the growing season right now, ample sunlight is abundant, so use it if you can.

Fertilizer is important to any growing plant, so please consult your local nursery to find out what is best in your area. Why does a garden need fertilizer?  Plants usually need nitrogen rich soil in order to grow to their peek. Think of it as vitamins for growing children. You're an adult, or maybe a teenager reading this piece, you need vitamins to grow, and so does your plants.  

Historically, gardens were a mainstay to any home, without it you starved. So, consider returning back to your original roots and start your garden today. When green peppers are a buck each, and you can get ten peppers from every plant you grow, you'll be thanking me for suggesting you grow your own. You can freeze them for later use, so don't worry about them going back in the fridge. I'll teach you how to save your rich garden rewards in another article soon. 

The golden rule to planting is simple - "Plant it low and it will grow, plant it high and it will die."  Ask any horticulturalist and they will agree with that quote. Why spend the money on seeds and plants, only to allow them to die - that's not being frugal. So heed the quote and you'll have an abundance of veggies to consume, can, and freeze for the winter.