12/02/2023
Wherever you set up your garden, make sure that the soil is appropriate for planting fruits and vegetables. Good soil should be well-aerated, free of obstructions like rocks, and rich in organic material.
You can purchase soil-testing kits if you choose, or you can perform your own experiments by soaking the soil and waiting a day. Then dig up some soil with your hand and squeeze it hard; if it’s still too wet, you’ll need some manure, compost, or organic matter to solidify it. When opening your hand, if the soil hasn’t become spherical in shape, it may be too sandy; if it’s hard despite being poked, it has too much clay in it. Perfect soil is characterized by the “dirt ball” breaking into crumbs when you poke it.
Now comes the fun part: deciding what you want to grow. Be sure to get input from the rest of the people in your household, and don’t plant more than your family can consume.
Do some research on the growing seasons of your produce, which can vary greatly by geographic region. Warm-season veggies include corn, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and tomatoes; while cabbage, spinach, lettuce, beets, and carrots grow better in cooler temperatures.
Buying a few seed packets or small plants can yield several pounds of produce if the garden is well tended.
