The concept of “growing your own food” can certainly be daunting though it can save on costs and allows more control over how it is grown. As someone who discovered the magic of watching a strawberry grow from a flower, or shucked fresh corn from the farmers market, I can honestly say it is worth it. While I loved the access to fresh food, it took me years before I decided to try it myself. But I can honestly say, I am so glad I did. Over the next couple of posts, I will share tips and tricks that I’ve learned along the way to make it easier for you to get started.
Where to start
I highly encourage you to start in one thing; it is a marathon, not a sprint. By starting small, it prevents the sensation of being overwhelmed. It also gives you time to learn what grows well in your area and what process or system helps your setup thrive. Here are a couple of ideal starting areas:
Herbs
Herbs. The range of herb options is endless and is easy to grow both indoors and outdoors. In ideal conditions, plants can produce an abundance that can be eaten fresh, or air dried and to restock your spice cabinet. It’s important to know what herbs grow well together and which to avoid. Plants have two primary growing considerations, spacing and watering. For example, rosemary and lavender grow well together because neither like to be in soggy wet soil. They can be watered once every couple of weeks, or once a week during hot summers. On the other hand, basil and parsley grow well together as they both love water and need damp soil and more watering. Oregano and thyme grow well together but need more space as they like to branch out. It is great to ensure they have room to grow or to be planted along the edge of a planter box or bed so that they can grow over naturally. Mint is one that does best planted in a pot because it tends to take over. It can be grown with other types of mint (i.e. sweet mint, peppermint, spearmint), but not with other herbs.
Transform Food Scraps
Store scraps. Get a head start with growing new plants from store scraps. Now when I say scraps, I don’t mean the carrot peels, but plants like celery and lettuce are often sold with the whole plant and can be used to grow a new plant. You get the benefit of cutting off two-thirds of the plant for dishes for the week, and reserve that bottom third of the plant to grow a new one. It’s important to buy organic for the regrowth as some commercially grown foods contain growth inhibitors. The regrowth process is simple; it requires water and time. It took about 2 weeks to see growth and new roots where I have now transitioned the plants out into my garden. Start by adding a couple inches of water to the bottom of a small dish and place the plant in the water in a sunny window sill. I like to use 6oz glass mason jars, but you can also reuse cleaned yogurt or sour cream containers from the store. If you want more tips on growing scraps, check out growing lettuce and growing celery which I found to be good references.
Choose One Area to Explore
If you are just getting started, start small by picking one of the two options above to try. Start small with a few herbs that you like or two types of lettuce you enjoy. Pro tip: If you choose regrowing, choose something that you can easily incorporate into dishes for the week. For example, lettuce wraps and salads with the lettuce or soup and chicken or tuna salad with the celery. I can’t wait to share your joy at successfully growing something you enjoy. I was thrilled to grow my first potatoes that I harvested a couple of weeks ago. While I only got a couple, I’ve learned what to do differently which is all a part of the process.
Stay tuned for the next segment on gardening tips! Also in the line up are more recipes to complement treasures from the garden.