by Margie Siegal
Not only is this the time for New Year’s resolutions, but a lot of us are looking to stretch that budget. If your New Year’s resolutions include putting in a vegetable garden, start planning now to harvest your first crop of snow peas ($7.00 a pound in the supermarket!) radishes, lettuce or kale in March or April.
Some things to consider:
What area of your property is the sunniest?
Although leafy vegetables like lettuce will do OK in part shade, most veggies like sun, the more the merrier. One item to consider is that the sun is lower on the horizon in winter, and your sunny spots will not be the same as they are in March or April. Think back to last summer: what area of your yard was the least comfortable to spend time in?
If the sunniest area is covered with concrete, and hiring a jackhammer to remove it is not an option, consider getting some large planter boxes. You may be able to find an old wooden dresser that someone is throwing out. Take out the drawers (you can use them to grow radishes or lettuce) drill drainage holes in the back and fill with dirt. Unless the trim on the dresser keeps it off the ground, lay the dresser on some 1 x 2 lumber or heavy plastic supports to allow water to drain. The dresser idea will also work if your only outside space is a sunny apartment balcony.
Amend your soil
If your sunny space is already dirt, when was the last time you added any amendments to it? Try a test dig. How hard is it to get a shovel through that soil? Think about your poor little plant roots, trying to get through that hard, crusty soil. Or maybe your soil is easy to dig in because it is mostly sand, and offers no nutrition to your hungry little starters. Either way, the cure is to dig in as much compost as you can get your hands on. Click here to learn where to obtain free compost in Alameda.
Winter is a great time to dig in compost. The soil is moist and easier to work. It’s also cold, and digging in compost will warm you up! Think of digging as ‘farmercize’ – a great way to get in your aerobics for the day, plus muscle-building. Burn those calories from holiday partying! You should end up with dark soil that crumbles easily when it dries out, and, if you really work at it, six-pac abs.
Fertilize
Speaking of compost, when was the last time you added any fertilizer? Organic is best, because it releases slowly and it’s harder to over fertilize and burn your plants. Fish fertilizer is reasonably inexpensive and produces good results. Make sure you follow the directions on the bottle.
Plan what to grow and when
Now that you have your garden area prepped for spring, what are you going to grow? Some crops do well in the cooler weather of spring, while others like a lot of heat. Early birds include peas, lettuce, kale, Asian greens, carrots and radishes. Think about what your family likes to eat, and look for information on that crop. Many popular vegetables need more heat than is available in Alameda. Beginners should not try melons, okra, eggplant, and many varieties of corn and tomatoes. Look for early tomatoes and short season corn, which need less heat. When in doubt, ask the good folks at Ploughshares Nursery or Encinal Nursery.
Draw a map of your garden area, and measure it, then look up how many plants of your chosen crops will fit in that area. (If the answer is one plant (for example a large pumpkin) maybe you should rethink what you are planning to grow.) Also think about vertical space. Pole beans and peas can be trained up a trellis or garden netting. If your garden area faces east or south, you can put tomatoes in tomato cages in front of the beans and lettuce in front of the tomatoes and everyone will be happy and grow.
Seeds or starters?
If you are planning to put in a sizable garden, starters may break the bank. Only a few varieties of each type of vegetable are available as starters, while a dizzying array of veggies are available as seed. Many of the best types for this area are available as seed only. On the other hand, if you want to put in a six pack of tomatoes, one or two herb plants and that one big pumpkin that your kids are demanding, starters are a better bet. (You can put the pumpkin starter in a very large plastic pot and reserve your actual garden area for tomatoes and beans. The pumpkin plant will cascade over the sides of the pot. Have the kids raise it as a STEM project). Look for seed starting advice on the ABG website. ABG will be having a seed starting workshop in a month. Look for the announcement on our calendar or events page. Our five Free Seed Libraries will reopen in early February with tomatoes, basil, peppers and lots of cool season veggies and herbs. Locations are on the website.
Your other New Years Resolutions
If you want to work out more, cut down screen time and eat healthier, working on your garden will help you with all those other resolutions, while cutting your food bill.
Get out there and play in the dirt!