My Personal Gardener is a family business. Owned and operated by Mark Sharp, Stan Sharp, and Morgan Carr, along with a well qualified crew. Serving Knoxville since 2006, this business has grown by word of mouth and quality work. We are all itching for spring, and planting a spring vegetable garden may be in your future. Stan Sharp shares some basics on where to start. Read more at MPGLandscaping.com.
1. How does someone start a vegetable garden?
Any garden project should start with a plan. It is vital that your fruits and vegetables have ample light and water. So pick a place that is sunny and can be easily accessed with a water hose. I am also a firm believer that you should consider the proximity of your garden to your kitchen. It will be much easier to use the foods you are growing if your garden is seen often.
2. Once I’ve picked a spot, how do I “break ground” on my garden project?
Whether you are growing your vegetables in native soil, raised beds, or even in back porch containers; make sure that your soil is fit for growing. This may include tilling the soil that you have, or bringing in a planting medium. Maybe the best thing you can do to ensure a successful garden is to have your soil tested through the University of Tennessee Extension Office. This simple test will tell you the pH of your soil, and will explain how to best amend your garden plot for optimal growth. Healthy soil makes healthy plants.
3. How should I choose what to grow?
If you are just starting out, pick vegetables and fruit that you and your family like to eat. There’s no reason to grow eggplants if they’re not going to be eaten. Too often people are distracted by the idea of growing “a little bit of everything”. Also, there are so many varieties of fruits and vegetables in every seed catalogue and garden center. Be sure to choose varieties that are easy to grow in the hot humid south. Do a little bit of research before you purchase a bunch of seeds that perform best in cool arid climates. There is very important information on the back of those little seed packets, and on the tags of your potted plants.
4. How do I keep my garden going/ alive one it’s started?
Great question! Don’t just walk away and expect your garden to bear fruit. Be sure to make the needed amendments required in testing your soil. Compost and mulch can be major game changers in your gardens overall productivity. Composts are great for boosting the fertility of your soil, while mulch is a great way to retain soil moisture and control pesky weeds. Just be careful not to use immature composts like fresh grass clippings or fresh manure. Often these substances are high in nitrogen and can cause young plants to burn. Plastic coverings may be used to retain moisture and prevent weeds, but can be problematic if there is insufficient drainage. A good organic mulch will break down overtime and add soil fertility.
5. Any tips or tricks that we should know to make our garden grow?
A good vegetable garden is just as much an art as it is a science. I can’t express how important it is to simply spend time in your garden. Spending time around your garden will allow you to see what is blooming and what is bearing fruit. Being present will allow you to see what pests are nibbling on your plants, and also what bugs are feeding on those pests. I love to plant leafy greens and herbs so that there is always something to harvest. Whether you’re concocting ways to keep the chipmunks out of your cherry tomatoes, or daydreaming about your next culinary masterpiece, the time you spend in your garden will pay dividends.
Join Amy Campbell - Rochelson weekly at “The Tennessee Farm Table Podcast & Broadcast” for stories of Food, Farming and Folklore. Listen on your schedule by podcast at TennesseeFarmTable.com or by radio Saturdays 9:00-9:30, 89.9. WDVX, Knoxville and Saturdays 2:00-2:30 WUTC, Chattanooga.