Backyard gardens are sprouting up all over the country.
Green said families can get their own victory garden started without a lot of space.
You dont need to do a ton to grow some high-quality food, he said.
The garden at Daystar Life Center in St. Petersburg, Florida, was started by Robin Clemmons and a group of volunteers. It includes about 650 square feet of raised beds at the center’s entrance. Chris Zuppa/The Penny Hoarder
He has one primary piece of advice for aspiring vegetable growers.
Tomatoes are some of the easiest vegetables to grow, Green said.
If you like tomatoes, thats a good one to start with.
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The garden has 650 square feet of raised beds.
If you have kids or even if you want to see progress fast, grow radishes.
you’re free to see those in 20 days, Clemmons said.
Beans grow really fast, about an inch or so a week.
Thats why they called it Jack and the Beanstalk, not Jack and the Pepperstalk.
She offered these tips for starting your own victory garden.
Planning Your Victory Garden
1.
Your garden can be as small as 6x1, with six vegetables planted a foot apart.
However, a good size is 3x10.
Most vegetables grow best with eight hours of direct sun daily.
Some of the easiest plants to grow are okra, peppers and tomatoes.
4.Some of the fastest vegetables to grow are cucumbers, squash, radishes and beans.
(Check out theUrban Farmer sitefor a guide to what to plant each month based on your location.)
Preparing Your Soil
6.
(For most of the United States, that means planting in late May.)
This will kill the weeds, grass and everything else growing underneath without having to use chemicals.
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Planting Your Seeds
9.
Get the seeds you want for your garden.
Seed packets cost $1 to $3 and are available online and at stores offering curbside pickup.
10.Dig holes and fill them with a bit of topsoil and your seeds or seedlings.
Plant several seeds to get one plant, because not all of them will produce.
You will need to thin these out later.
If you have a small space, grow some of your food vertically.
Peppers grow up a stake about three feet tall, so tie the stalk to it as it grows.
Cucumbers need to twist around a tripod or criss-cross trellis.
The vine will find its own way and attach as it grows.
In a larger garden, cucumber plants can grow across the ground.
Almost every county in America has an agricultural extension website with many tips and resources.
Some have apps to guide you along the way.
Both Clemmons and Green said extension offices are a very useful resource for new gardeners.
Green also suggested asking neighboring gardeners which garden centers offer the best selections and guidance.
In addition, most communities have gardening-related Facebook groups available for help.
He shared these instructions for building a simple raised bed.
Clear a 4-foot-by-8-foot section of grass and weeds, then dig up and till the dirt.
Just cut out the bottom.
Add potting soil and compost, then plant your seeds.
If you plant seedlings, you get a month or more head start on the growth process.
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