One of the most important steps in homesteading/prepping/survival, and self-sufficiency is being able to grow your own food. This may be an intricate part but it is not as hard as it sounds. Starting a Home Garden, Simple and Easy will give you the most basic steps to starting to grow your own food.
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These are some of the easiest kinds of veg to grow and most commonly used. You can, of course, grow whatever you want to but it is best to start simple and build as your skills improve.
The first way of Starting a Home Garden, Simple and Easy is to grow your own salad.
1. Grow Your Own Salad
Thinking of having a Home Garden? What about growing your own Salad? Many people are deciding to take the plunge to grow some of their own vegetables these days.
Growing salad ingredients would be a great place to start. You can even get the kids involved. Watching a garden grow from start to finish is a great way of teaching them the important lesson of where food really comes from. Learning is easier for the young so starting early will give them the skills they can use as adults. If you start your kids young, they will not even realize they are learning. And when they get older and start school or a trade it will be easier for them as they already know some of the basics and did not even realize it.
First, you would want to start in the early spring for fresh greens in your salad, they like the colder weather. You might then add some peas to the garden that would add nicely to your salad. Spinach is especially nice in a salad as well as other dishes.
Then it would be time to get some tomato plants to add to your garden. If you have never had a fresh from the garden tomato, then put this at the top of the list of plants to buy, because you will never taste anything more delicious. Store-bought tomatoes just don’t have the same fantastic taste as a tomato grown in a home garden. Many store-bought tomatoes are grown in a hothouse and do not have the nutritional value of the home-grown version. You can bet it will be on your plant list every year once you have grown one of your very own.
There are many varieties of tomato plants you can buy. Cherry tomatoes are very easy to grow and great for a salad. You can grow them in a big container or in your garden and if you live in a mild climate they will come back next year. The larger tomatoes will require more space and more dirt for their roots but it will be worth it. A fresh tomato on your BLT sandwich is amazing.
Our preference is the BLTA (Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, and Avocado) but we are just quirky that way. Throw in a dash of chili and lime, you can not beat that on a hot summer day.
Let’s not forget to add in some radishes if you like them.
Maybe you would prefer cucumbers, they are very nice sliced thin on a salad. Cucumbers are another salad staple that will need a good bit of room to grow but if you have a few square feet, you can do it.
Broccoli and cauliflower really enjoy being planted in colder weather; you can plant them in the early spring and then again in early fall for a late crop. Both can be eaten raw with a nice dip or cooked for a side dish. Chopped into a salad is another way to enjoy fresh broccoli and cauliflower.
Growing your own salad garden is a very fun hobby that will benefit you and your family. Enjoying the outdoors while tending the garden not only improves your health but also your well-being. Gardening makes for a good family time also. There is always something for everyone to do to help no matter the age or size. Also when you are eating something that you grew yourself in your own garden it is a very special treat that everyone should experience. Never underestimate the value of pride in working with your hands.
Another way of Starting a Home Garden, Simple and Easy is a window garden.
2. How To Make A Garden In A Window
You can easily grow a garden in a small space such as your apartment window if you are interested in growing many plants make the utmost use of what you have by installing shelves across the lowermost sash.
The shelves should be made of glass, and also the saucers in which the plants stand, so they do not shut out any more light than is absolutely necessary.
For the same reason, the brackets holding the shelves should not be made of bulky materials but should be as light as possible consistent with sufficient strength to support the glass and up to six 3 to 4-inch pots filled with soil.
You might even fix up a hanging wire frame secured by a heavy rod mounted to the top of your window frame. Attach your wireframe to that and then lay your glass shelves to make each level, again make sure it is sturdy enough to hold your pots and soil.
Another idea is just to put a table up next to the window and put a ready-made shelf on the table.
Almost any plant adapted to house culture, which can be accommodated for a while in a pot not exceeding 4 inches across, can be used.
Pick plants that will grow in your window, sun lovers in the south window, and these averse to too much light in north or east windows.
For some flavor in Starting a Home Garden, Simple and Easy try growing herbs inside.
3. Growing Herbs Inside
Herbs are easy to grow indoors in pots and they don’t take up too much space, basil, lavender, parsley, chives, mint, rosemary, and thyme are great choices. Be sure to snip the plants to make them grow round and full.
Growing your own garden in a window is such a satisfying hobby, you can get your kids to grow their own plant and take care of it every day. Watching the plant as it grows and then eating what you grow is a healthy and happy hobby to start.
A good basic set of eight herbs for cooking and fragrance are Sage, Thyme, Chives, Oregano, Lemon Balm, Orange Mint, Spearmint, and Rosemary. All make great choices for your kitchen herb garden.
Another step for beginners in Starting a Home Garden, Simple and Easy is starting an easy herb garden.
4. Easy Herb Garden For Beginners
Is it “Herb or “Erb”? It doesn’t matter how you pronounce it both are correct. Many herbs and spices have medical properties and can be used as natural medicine.
Herbs can be grown yearly or year-round and most will perform well for you. Some of these remarkable scented plants of an herb garden will keep coming back, year after year for your enjoyment.
Some herbs might become invasive, like the mint family. Just be aware of those plants in your garden. Those need to be planted in pots unless you don’t mind them overtaking your herb garden. And unless you’re a big fan of lemon balm, she will need her own pot as well. Otherwise, she will take over your herb garden and flowerbeds if you let her.
You really don’t need much space to grow a wide variety of herbs; an area of 4 by 4 feet is enough for a herb garden. You can even grow herbs in containers on your patio. Or even in your kitchen window. Keep in mind that it needs sun and good drainage.
Growing your very own herb garden is a fun project for the whole family. Getting the kids involved in the process is very rewarding and encourages responsibility. Even if you only grow one plant showing your kids where their food comes from is a very important part of growing up.
Everyone will benefit from your herb garden, you might enjoy some Lemon Balm Tea on a sunny afternoon, it’s a very relaxing herb, and also is good herbal remedy for headaches. It’s really not hard at all, start your kitchen herb garden this year and make your very own tea!
When Starting a Home Garden, Simple and Easy consider starting plants from seed.
5. Starting Plants From Seed
Starting from seed is a fairly simple process. You will need some dirt, water, containers, and of course, seeds of your choice.
Simply fill the containers with dirt, add a seed of two per container, and cover with more dirt and water. Place your seed containers in a warm, sunny place and wait. Remember to gently water your seeds every two or three days as they get dry. Do not let them get totally dried out or the seeds will not sprout.
Keep an eye on them and in a few days you will see your first green sprouts. Depending on the kind of seeds you planted, the time will vary. All plants have a different growth rate and you will need to research that and calculate when to start your seeds.
Let your babies grow happily in the containers until they are big enough to go outside. Then transplant your seedlings to the outside garden or larger containers.
Once you are ready to transplant your plants just remove them carefully from their pots; place them in the center of an open area, in the hole you dug for them, and at a depth no greater than that which they grew in their containers.
Gently separate the plant roots if it is root bound, just pull them apart a little bit, then place them in the hole and cover them with dirt. Lightly pat down and keep adding dirt until it is a little bit rounded.
Give them a little fertilizer and water well. Then re-water as needed for the first couple of weeks. They may need watering from time to time if you live in an area that is normally dry with little natural rain.
Some people think that plants are much easier to grow than starting them with seeds. If you choose to buy plants instead of seeds make sure you do your research as to if your chosen plant will thrive in your area or not. Learn exactly what that plant does and does not like so you can care for it properly and get the best results.
After you arrive home with your plants from the nursery. Let the plants set for a day or two, to get over the stress of moving to a new location. Keep the plants watered and in a sunny spot until you’re ready to replant them.
The process of transplanting is pretty much the same for seedlings or plants.
When Starting a Home Garden, Simple and Easy there are things to think about before you get started.
6. 6 Things To Check Before You Plant A Garden
Finding the perfect location for your garden is the most important step to a successful crop. Proper lighting is also important to insure that you’re vegetables will grow to their full potential.
Here is a list of things to check before you decide on the site for your garden.
a. Sun (at least 6 hours a day)- Sun is a very important factor. All plants need the sun to grow. Vegetable gardens thrive on it and don’t do well in a shady location.
b.Well-drained soil is important as well; the soil must be well-drained. If you notice that when it rains you have a little pond, where you wanted the garden to be, then this would not make a proper garden spot and you should move on, and pick a new location site.
c. Freedom from woody plant roots and erosion you are going to be working the ground and planting plants in the soil, you want the soil to be rich and root-free. You also don’t want a good downpour of rain to wash away your plants, looking for erosion is key.
d. Access to water Have you ever had to haul a gallon bucket full of water any distance? Most of the time you will never make your destination, without spilling some of the water and just think if you had to haul it from the front of your house all the way to the back of the house. Make sure you have a way to water your garden with a hose or other means.
e. A convenient location that is easy for you to visit regularly would be important. If you had a lot of land and you decided to plant your garden all the way in the back of your property. You would never see your garden and the animals living in the woods would love for you to plant them a garden to eat. So plant the garden close to the house, so you can keep an eye on it.
f. Site Evaluation Start off by evaluating garden sites by looking at the soil conditions at the chosen sites. Start a notebook and keep track of the hours of sunlight each day on the site. Look for things like how much shade it has, and the soil condition such as clay or dry sand.
By keeping a notebook, you will be able to determine if the chosen site, will meet the needs of the garden you are hoping to grow.
With proper planning, in the beginning, it will prevent major headaches down the road. You will also be successful in growing your own garden and prospering in the fruits of your labor.
We have put together several Checklists and tips pages to help you on your gardening adventure. These are general checklists and tips that you may need to tweak to fit your exact needs. Keep in mind every situation will be different so the needs may be a bit different as well. Feel free to download the PDF, print out, and use these pages for yourself.
This is a three-page Building and Maintaining a Compost Tips and Checklist.
This is a three-page Build a Greenhouse Tips and Checklist.
Starting a Home Garden, Simple and Easy you also need to know when to harvest that wonderful garden you have grown.
7. When To Harvest Your Home-Grown Vegetables
Growing your own vegetables is one of the most rewarding hobbies you can have, not only will it provide you with life-giving food, but you will be getting vitamins and minerals that most of the produce you buy in the supermarket doesn’t have anymore.
With the overproduction of the fields and the chemicals they now use on the plants, it’s no wonder most Americans are sick. Leading many to turn back to a simpler life and grow their own food.
Knowing when to harvest your Home Grown Vegetables can be a little tricky. Grandmothers of our past knew just when to pick the tomatoes to perfection. And When to plant a garden under the right moon phase.
Generations today, have gotten away from the old ways and have forgotten or were never taught how or when to harvest vegetables, so you get the best taste possible.
Certain vegetables are at a delicate perfection of flavor and texture if harvested while still young and small. And this is a treat reserved almost entirely for the home gardeners. Through trial and error, they have learned when is the best time to pick their prized vegetables and when to leave them to harvest later.
While it’s not a good idea to eat most of the garden in its infancy, we do think that an appreciation of those vegetables that offer a tasty bonus when very young is worthwhile for a gardener’s enjoyment.
Also fortunately, it’s well to start harvesting some crops early in order to avoid too many vegetables ready at the same time at the peak of harvest, that way you won’t have too much waste or have to throw out uneaten vegetables.
Here are some vegetables that make great candidates for juvenile harvesting. Keep in mind they must come from healthy, vigorous plants.
Artichokes, Yellow Squash, Beets, Snap Beans, Brussels Sprouts, Cantaloupe, Carrots, Egg Plant, Lettuce, Peas, and Potatoes.
Do remember that every plant is slightly different as to what it likes and will tolerate. Also, each area has different soil, water quality, and weather. You will need to do your research and know your area so you can plan around any issues or differences you may find. All of these things will affect the growth and taste of the plants so keep that in mind.
Armed with this new knowledge of when to harvest your Home Grown Vegetables, you will be successful in providing your family with the most delicious vegetables possible and surely your neighbors will be impressed as well.
We have put together a Be Prepared for a Drought Tips and a Survival Gardening Tools Checklist that you can download, print out, and use for your own journey into gardening. This is a general checklist and tips so you may need to tweak them to fit your exact needs. We hope these will help you in your gardening journey.
This is a three-page Be Prepared for a Drought Tips.
This is a three-page Survival Gardening Tools Checklist.
There are, of course, so many other aspects to gardening but this is a good start. As we have said many times before, start small and take small but consistent steps. The journey to self-sufficiency is not a quick trot but a well-planned, daily walk.
We hope you have enjoyed this talk about Starting a Home Garden, Simple and Easy. And we hope you are already planning your first garden. It does not matter if it is a salad garden, a window garden, a pot inside, or a real, in-the-ground garden, just start somewhere. Who knows, you may find that you have a hidden green thumb and if not, you can learn to grow a garden with time and patience.
If you are interested in similar talks please check out the ones below.
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How to Grow Your Own Fresh Ginger at Home
Little Green Onions are Very Easy to Grow at Home
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