Friends that are interested in trying to grow some of their own food have reached out to me and asked what they should do to get started. Much like I was when I started, they’re often overwhelmed by all of the various information out there about how to grow food and have no idea where to start. Here are the four simple steps I give anyone that asks me what they should do to get started with growing some of their own food
It can definitely be cheaper to grow your own food than to buy organic produce at your local grocery store or farmers market.
There are several plants that can really give you a huge harvest for just 1 plant! Check out these plants that are the most cost-effective plants to grow if you are trying to save money on your grocery store visits!
Square foot gardening is a gardening method where you divide your gardening space out into square foot (12″) areas. Mel Bartholomew’s book Square Foot Gardening, introduced the idea of planting densely within 4’x4′ raised beds in this square foot method. This method helps to promote growing space when you have limited growing space within your garden. Each square can be planted with different crops depending on what crops are considered good companions.
It’s important to get your baby plants accustomed to the outdoor environment before you transplant them outdoors. This will help them do better when you transplant them and keep them from going through shock.
Mint is not only easy to care for, but it grows and spreads by itself, coming back year after year. For this reason, it is best to keep mints in their own containers so they do not take over other plants in the garden. Mint has a plethora of flavors, and each of those flavors has its own plethora of uses. Popular varieties of mint include spearmint, peppermint, and chocolate mint.
Asparagus plants are quite the investment of time taking up to 3 years for a harvest. If you are planning on growing asparagus, make sure to plan ahead and set aside a section of your garden just for this.
These cat-attracting plants are not only fun for your cats, but also can have many benefits. They can be used to make herbal tea or to simply flower in your garden to attract bees. Catnip is also a great plant to have around to use as companion plants to help deter bugs away from your vegetables.
Bee balm is in the same family as mint and is grown very similarly. It is not only easy to care for, but it grows and spreads by itself, coming back year after year. For this reason, it is best to keep them in their own containers so they do not take over other plants in the garden. Bee balm is known for its amazing scent and beautiful flowers! They are great at attracting beneficial critters to your garden including hummingbirds and butterflies!
Spinach is an amazing cool weather crop that is one of our favorites! It tastes so much better directly from your garden than buying from the grocery store. You will be so impressed just like we were the first time we tried it! Spinach is a staple of our garden in the spring and fall.
