Easy organics: Start a green garden and save money | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Easy organics: Start a green garden and save money | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper

Posted on: Monday, April 19, 2010

Easy organics: Start a green garden and save money

By KAREN WEIR-JIMERSON
Des Moines Register

GROWING ORGANIC

If you’re interested in producing your own food, you may also be interested in growing it organically. That means you should use natural fertilizers such as compost or rotted manure. The goal is to raise healthy plants that will be resistant to insect and disease problems. However, if insects do attack, the chemical-free way to deter them is hand picking — donning a pair of rubber gloves and picking off offending big bugs (such as the dreaded tomato hornworm) and dropping them into a glass of soapy dishwater.

Organic-approved pesticides such as insecticidal soap and biological controls such as Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) are safe ways to get rid of some insects. Read the label and make sure the product you buy is effective for the pest you have.

Organic gardening discourages use of chemical herbicides. One of the best tricks for keeping weeds out of your garden is to mulch the ground with a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded bark or shredded plant material (leaves, grass clippings). This layer covers the soil’s surface and discourages the germination of weed seeds. An added bonus is that mulch also helps hold moisture in the soil, so you’ll have to water less, too.

If you knew how little it cost to grow the expensive mixed greens you buy at the grocery store or order at your favorite restaurant, you'd be shocked. You can grow meal after meal of succulent and spicy mixed greens for the cost of a seed packet — a couple bucks.

But there are other reasons beyond economy that make growing your own vegetables this summer a smart move. It's ecological. The ultimate green gesture, harvesting vegetables from your own garden means there is no packaging to add to landfills or fossil fuel transport costs or pollution. If you're considering starting your own garden for the first time, here are some pointers to get you going.

Garden basics

Planting an edible garden is fun — and pretty easy. Whether you sow seeds (the most economical way to garden) or plant seedlings (the immediate gratification method), you can raise food that will be the freshest-tasting produce you've ever eaten.

Soil: You can plant in the ground, a raised bed or a container on your patio and grow nearly any type of vegetable or fruit yourself. Soil is one of the determining characteristics of a successful garden. In short, bad soil is a deal breaker. Soil should be nutrient-rich and easy to plant in. Hard clay or sandy soils can be improved by adding compost, rotted manure, shredded leaves and other organic material. You can buy potting soil in bags from your local garden center. Make your own compost or buy it, too.

Water: You need to water seeds and seedlings after they are planted so they can establish a healthy root system. But you can overdo it. The soil should be moist, not soggy.

Once the temperatures heat up, that changes. If the soil is cracked and dry (or your plants are wilting), it's time to water. It's a good idea to locate your garden within hose length of a water source, otherwise you'll be carting watering cans.

Plants or seeds: Spring is the time to plant cool-weather vegetables, which can generally take colder temperatures. Lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, peas, carrots, radishes and kale can go into the ground right now (and earlier in the season).

Hold off planting hot-weather vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplants until after the threat of frost has passed. These vegetables need steamy temperatures to really get growing, so they may just stand around in your beds or containers until the weather heats up.

Sun: Your vegetable garden needs 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight a day.

Plant a few favorites: If this is your first garden, think small and focus on your family's vegetables and herbs — that way you'll be more likely to eat and enjoy them. If you love lettuce, plant a tabletop container of arugula or mesclun mix that you can snip and serve for salads. In larger spaces, plant a vegetable/herb trio that grows (and tastes good) together. For example, tomatoes, peppers and basil love hot weather, have similar watering requirements and make delicious on-the-plate companions (think ratatouille). Or plant tomatoes, onions, hot chiles and cilantro to create a salsa garden.

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