Abigail R. Gehring - The Good Living Guide to Country Skills: Wisdom for Growing Your Own Food, Raising Animals, Canning and Fermenting, and More

Copyright 2016 by Abigail R. Gehring

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Jenny Zemanek

Cover photo courtesy of istock.com/mythja

Print ISBN: 978-1-68099-122-2

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-68099-133-8

Photos on by Abigail Gehring

Illustration on by Tim Lawrence

Remaining photos courtesy of Shutterstock.com.

Printed in China

C ONTENTS

GROWING THINGS

C HOOSING A S ITE FOR Y OUR G ARDEN

When starting a new garden bed on a plot that hasnt recently been cultivated, I recommend starting small. After the first growing seasononce youve seen how well things grow in the soil and have a sense of how much time it takes to maintain the gardenyou can certainly expand if you choose to. A garden that is about 25 feet squared can provide plenty of vegetables for a small family if its well planned and well tended.

Country Tidbit Tomatoes were first cultivated in the Andes by the Aztecs and Mayans around AD 700. Tomatoes made their way to Europe in the sixteenth century. In the United States, the tomato was considered to be poisonous until the mid-nineteenth century. The story goes that in 1830 in Salem, Massachusetts, one brave man stood before a crowd and consumed a ripe tomato, despite warnings that his blood would turn to acid.

Keep the following in mind as you pick a spot:

1. Sunlight

Your plants will do best with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day, so look for a spot that is far enough away from the shade of trees, shrubs, houses, or other structures. Certain vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach, grow just fine in shadier spots, so if your garden does receive some shade, plant those types of vegetables in the shadier areas.

2. Proximity

If your property allows, having your garden a short walking distance from your home will make it easier for you to tend to it and to run out and grab vegetables or herbs for a meal.

3. Soil Quality

You do not need perfect soil to start and grow a productive garden, but your plants will certainly do better if the soil is fertile, full of organic materials that provide nutrients to the plant roots, and easy to dig and till. Loose, well-drained soil is ideal. If there is a section of your yard where water does not easily drain after a good, soaking rain, try to avoid that area. Furthermore, soils that are of a clay or sandy consistency are not as effective for growing plants. Most soil will need some attention before you plant seeds or seedlings, and some gardens take 2 or 3 years of attention before the soil is ready to give your plants the nutrients they need to thrive. To read more about improving soil quality, turn to .

TIP

Dont plant anything too close to a tree. The tree will hog the soils nutrients and the sunlight.

4. Water Availability

A successful garden needs around 1 inch of water per week to thrive. Situating your garden near a spigot or hose will allow you to keep the soil moist and your plants happy during dry periods.

5. Elevation

Avoid situating your garden in a low-lying area, such as at the base of a slope, where cold air collects. Lower areas do not warm as quickly in the spring, and frost forms quickly during the spring and fall.

Your garden should, if at all possible, be elevated slightly, on ground that is higher up.

Flowers That Do Well in Partial and Full Shade

Bee balm

Bellflower

Bleeding heart

Cardinal flower

Coleus

Columbine

Daylily

Dichondra

Fern

Forget-me-not

Globe daisy

Golden bleeding heart

Impatiens

Leopardbane

Lily of the valley

Meadow rue

Pansy

Periwinkle

Persian violet

Primrose

Rue anemone

Snapdragon

Sweet alyssum

Thyme

Vegetables That Can Grow in Partial Shade

Arugula

Beans

Beets

Broccoli

Brussels sprouts

Cauliflower

Endive

Kale

Leaf lettuce

Peas

Radishes

Spinach

Swiss chard

Tips for Gardening on a Small Plot

1) Grow up. Vining crops, such as tomatoes, pole beans, peas, and cucumbers, can be grown vertically on trellises, fences, or stakes.

2) Window boxes. Herbs, salad greens, and strawberries can be grown in window boxes.

3) Choose wisely. Plant veggies with high yields for the amount of space they take, such as radishes, lettuce, carrots, garlic, onions, and spinach.

C OMPANION P LANTING

Plants have natural substances built into their structures that repel or attract certain insects and can have an effect on the growth rate and even the flavor of the other plants around them. Thus, some plants aid each others growth when planted in close proximity and others inhibit each other. Smart companion planting will help your garden remain healthy, beautiful, and in harmony, while deterring certain insect pests and other factors that could be potentially detrimental to your garden plants.