I can’t grow vegetables. I planted pumpkins one summer and the vines took over the yard, intent on world domination until I destroyed them with an ax. My kids still have memories.
But my friends Kerry and Jayne grow lots of good vegetables. Here’s their advice on how to start your own yard farm:
Step 1: Do you really want to garden? Take it slow. Fill 5-10 gallon jugs from Home Depot with good soil and place outside near the kitchen so every day watering is easy. Plant tomato seedlings, cucumber seeds, and herbs because they grow well. Cover them with netting so animals and birds don’t destroy them. If you enjoy your experience, see step 2.
Step 2: Small, sunny, convenient. Find a convenient patch of yard near the house, one that gets at least 6-8 hours of sun each day. Westport soil is like clay, so purchase good-quality soil for the beds and mix with compost. Plant the easy stuff - tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots. Plant seedlings for the tomatoes, use seeds for the cukes and carrots because they don’t enjoy being transferred. Water almost every day and pull the weeds. If you’re still into it, step 3.
Step 3: Now it gets serious. Consider a larger plot with a professional fence that begins 2-3 beneath the ground (hungry rodents are crafty diggers) and a mesh covering to keep out birds. With graph paper, plot where to plant your seedlings and seeds. In April/May, get quality soil and mix with compost. Make sure the soil is soft and 12-18 inches deep. Raised beds are useful for this and keep the plantings organized. You’ll need to water at least three times a week so have the garden near a water source.
More Tips from Jayne the Veggie Charmer:
Seeds:
- My essential vegetables include tomato, cukes, peppers, peas, green beans, basil, and root vegetables.
- Buy non-GMO seeds; they don’t have to be organic. I prefer heirloom seeds. They’ve evolved to produce a sturdy plant and I like the true nature of them.
- Get quality seeds from Fedco, Botanical Interests (Gilbertie’s) or Johnny Seeds.
- Stick with seeds (not seedlings) for cukes, peas, carrots and other veggies that don’t like to be transferred.
Seedlings:
- I don’t recommend first time gardeners grow their own seedlings. It can be intimidating, takes up a lot of space and time, and requires an investment: grow lights, heat mats, seed starter soil and seedling pots.
- Get seedlings from local nurseries or anywhere you find them - Stew’s, Stop & Shop, Home Depot.
- Buy seedlings early. If you wait until Memorial Day to shop for seedlings, it’ll be slim pickings. Buy them early May and baby them in your house.
When to plant what:
- Stick pea seeds or snow peas in the soil around St. Patrick’s Day and they’ll grow early spring.
- Plant seedlings between Mother’s Day and Memorial Day, after the last frost.
- Harvest in July.
- When your July plants are unbearable to look at, tear them out and compost. Then plant beans, green beans, radishes, root vegetables - they’ll stay good through November/December.
Where to plant what:
- Plant small plants vs. tallest plants based on where the sun hits the soil.
- Plant carrots and radishes on the perimeter of the bed because they grow vertical and don’t require a lot of space.
- In the interior, plant shishito and jalapeño peppers with lettuce in between. The hot peppers ward of lettuce-eating bugs and provides valuable shade. (Underplant any tall plants with lettuce for shade).
- Kale, cabbage, and brussel sprouts are loved by every pest in the world, so mix up the plantings.
Speaking of pests:
- Bugs don’t like smelly/spicy things, so mix up your peppers and herbs with your kale, tomatoes, and cabbages.
- Marigolds! Bugs hate them. Plant them in between plants and around the perimeter.
- I sprinkle crushed egg shells around leafy greens (lettuce, kale) because snails don’t like the sharp edges.
- No chemical spraying! Use Neem Oil or a homemade brew of water, hot peppers, garlic, and dish detergent.
Special word on garlic - my all time favorite!:
- Plant garlic in the fall, then don’t do anything until you harvest in mid-July.
- Get seed-garlic from a reputable garlic farmer for the best possible harvest.