Grow Your Own Vegetables
By RAY PRIOR , Coweta County Master Gardener
Maybe it’s the high price of food. Maybe it’s the economy in general. Maybe it’s the delightful thought of having a slice of home-grown tomato on your BLT. For whatever reasons, a lot of people have asked about starting their own vegetable garden. Good idea.
You don’t need a lot of space. My plot is 12′ x 12′ and at any given time during the summer you will find tomatoes, beans, bell peppers, cucumbers and parsley which I grow mainly for Swallowtail Butterfly caterpillars to munch on in September. I still have room for a row of marigolds across the front, gladiolas along the fence and a small “nursery” where I experiment with clippings from roses and shrubs.
The soil is moist, and it is warming up. Now is a good time to start your own garden. First, pick a spot in full sun, and if possible, near your water supply and near the house for your convenience.
Finally, get rid of the weeds and till the soil to a depth of several inches. Good drainage is important. Work in some organic matter. Once the plants are in place, mulch with leaves or other organic materials to reduce water evaporation and discourage weed growth.
Using composted material in your garden improves the texture of the soil and adds organic matter. One of my favorite compost materials is kitchen scraps. To learn how to compost kitchen scraps and other material ask for the “Composting & Mulching” publication. For more information visit the Extension office or call at 770 254 2620.
Curtesy: Times-Heard.com
