Family Gardening

Step One: Location, Location, Location
There are a couple of important factors when choosing a spot for your new garden, the first being what previously occupied your garden space.  For example, if you’re living on a newly-constructed property, the lack of topsoil might make for difficult growing. But don’t worry!  Most soil isn’t perfect, and there are lots of steps that can be taken to maximize its productivity.

Observe your future garden plot. Take note of any surrounding trees or buildings that could cast a shadow, as most plants need full sun throughout the day. You’ll also want to ensure adequate drainage, so make sure the area is one that doesn’t flood easily.

Learn about your soil type! It can either be clay, sandy, or silty, and can tend towards either being alkaline or acidic, all of which can affect your garden. Purchase an easy-to-use soil test, and talk with a local nursery or other gardeners in your community to find out the best way to work with the ground you’ve got.

Step Two: Get Ready
Prepare your garden for planting by clearing the land (read: weeding!) in winter or early spring. While this might not be the most exciting step, remember that your hard work will pay off in the long run, so weed away! Note that depending where you live and what you’re planning to grow, this might be an appropriate time to start some plants in indoor pots–but more on that later!

Planting beds or boxes raise plants up and mark off where your garden begins and ends.  And with the ability to improve drainage and enrich poor soil, they’re definitely worth the effort.

• Raised beds are exactly what they sound like–a raised mound of soil.  They’re easy to construct but are difficult to maintain since they lack a sturdy structure. They’re usually 18-20″ wide, 4-8″ high, and can be any length.
• Plant boxes provide physical barriers, thus minimizing weeds and trampling feet.  Make them yourself out of recycled plastic lumber or buy pre-made.  They usually run 4″ wide, 8-10″ long, and 10-12″ high before being placed in the soil.

Nourish your soil with compost or homemade liquid fertilizer, and use mulch or grass clippings to minimize water evaporation and weed growth.  To learn more about kid-friendly composting, check out the Sustainable Production Systems Information slideshow.  For organic, DIY liquid fertilizer methods, click here.

Step Three: Plant Accordingly
Choose the right crops according to your location, season, and family’s taste preferences. We’ve created a comprehensive list of plants divided by region (link), so be sure to take a look if you need help deciding. While seeds can be purchased from any local nursery, consider doing a little research on where to find interesting heirloom varieties. Note that seed packets usually provide directions regarding planting depth and spacing.

To maximize your garden’s output, consider crop rotation or companion planting.

• Crop rotation involves putting different plants in different plots each year in order to avoid disease as well as nutrient depletion in the soil. For a comprehensive crop rotating chart, visit GardenOrganic.
• Companion planting involves growing certain plants together for their mutual benefit, maximizing space and naturally deterring pests. CompanionPlanting.net has a large list of compatible and incompatible plants.

If sowing seeds directly, the only tools necessary for planting are your fingers.  Just poke a hole in the soil! If you’re transplanting seedlings that were previously growing in a pot, you’ll need a trowel.

Starting plants indoors (link) is a surefire way to keep them from getting too cold early in the growing season. However, should your outdoor garden be threatened by a cold snap, keep plants toasty by surrounding them with straw or thermal fleece, or top them with the cut-off bottom half of a two-liter bottle.

Growing Fruit
Picking a perfectly ripe apple from your own backyard certainly seems idyllic, but with a little work, it can also be realistic. The fruit-growing process is a little different than its herb and vegetable counterpart, but certainly no more difficult.

One of the great things about fruit trees is that once they’re planted, they’ll provide year after year of delicious bounty with little work on the grower’s part. Think apples, pears, figs, or stone fruits like plums, nectarines, or peaches for the freshest out-of-hand snack you could wish for or the most flavorful fillings for pies, cobblers, or crisps.

Like vegetable patches, fruit trees thrive in areas with adequate drainage, full sun, lots of organic matter, and mulch. Make sure the soil isn’t too wet when planting your tree, then dig a deep, wide hole so the roots fit comfortably and are completely covered. Keep the tree well-watered, and surround the base with mulch to prevent weed growth. Finally, prune your tree regularly for the greatest fruit yield, as well as to prevent infection.

What about berries? Blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and any other kind of soft fruit gem you can imagine usually come from bushes, and they’re planted similarly to fruit trees. If birds start enjoying your berries before your family does, invest in some netting to drape over the fruit bush.

Minimizing Pests, Organically
While growing your own fruits and vegetables allows your family to experience the ultimate in fresh, local produce at its peak of flavor, it also allows you to control the way your food is grown. Using natural methods to minimize pests gives you access to organic food for a fraction of the price, and reduces your impact on the planet. Here, we’ve outlined some general tips to keep your plants safe and healthy.

• Get back to basics with a scarecrow. DIY it with materials found around the house for a weekend family project!
• Encourage ladybugs with nettles or clumpy grasses, or pick up a commercial nest. They love to eat the common pests that munch on growing fruits and vegetables.
• Utilize companion planting as much as possible. Pairing onions and carrots, for example, creates a scent that repels many garden pests.
• Talk with local nurseries or other gardeners for information about local pests and plant diseases, as well as their tried-and-true organic solutions.

Indoor Growing
Whether you’re seeking a permanent indoor garden or a warm home for early seedlings, the benefits of inside growing are many: It’s ideal for small spaces and requires less commitment than a full-on garden patch, while planting containers can be easily moved around to receive the sun they need throughout the day.

Carrots, squash, cucumbers, lemons, peas, peppers, radishes, salad greens, tomatoes, and herbs are some plants that seem particularly suited to indoor growing. What’s more, there’s no need to purchase expensive new pots from the hardware or gardening store–plants will do just as well in recycled containers found around the house. Make use of the obvious yogurt containers, egg or milk cartons, and plastic bottles, or get creative; you can even use an old baby bath! Just be sure to clean your repurposed plant container thoroughly, and to make a few holes for adequate drainage.