Thinking about starting a vegetable garden this spring or summer? Having your own veggie garden lends itself to multiple benefits–you can be assured that you are getting tasty, healthy produce, you and your family can get some exercise in while digging in the dirt and you may even find that gardening provides stress relief. If you have no idea how to begin, don’t fret. We have tips for beginner gardeners from Leigh Funderburk of Stoney Creek Farm in Franklin.
1.Creating Your Garden
How big should your garden be and what kind of soil should you buy? Leigh suggests starting a 4 X 4 raised garden bed. As far as soil is concerned, you can find lots of information online and in books but “the easiest soil to use for a raised bed is 1/2 top soil and 1/2 manure (compost). It has to be mixed, not layered, but provides a wonderful soil that is easy to buy/use,” said Leigh.
*Check out the Square Foot Gardening Book for a soil recipe and more tips on starting a veggie garden.
If you don’t have the space at your home for a garden, try a garden plot. Stoney Creek offers three different size plots that you can rent. Rental prices range from $75-$125 for use from April through October 31st. “We provide rain water capture for the renters to water the plots, and we teach novice gardeners everything they need to know about gardening. We also monitor the rain and send out periodic e-mails to let the gardeners know how much rain we have received,” said Leigh. (Below are tips on how much water your garden should get)
2.Veggies to Grow
For beginners, the easiest plants to maintain are:
Green beans
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Squash
Zucchini
Onions
Bell Peppers
Jalapenos and other hot peppers
Herbs (basil, oregano, garlic, mint, sage, etc…)
3. When to Plant
Leigh gives the green light to plant your veggies around the first week of May.
4.Watering
“Vegetable plants need approximately 1 inch of rain per week. A raised bed can use more water than that because it dries out more than an in-ground garden. I always suggest that you keep a rain gauge and monitor the amount of rain you get…that way you don’t over or under water,” said Leigh.
5.Deterring Animals
Now that your garden is flourishing, you may find rabbits or other animals are taking advantage of your bounty. To deter them, build a fence or purchase netting. Another alternative is Liquid Fence, an eco-safe spray that repels deer and rabbits. Leigh says this is “the best economical and safe barrier for animals.” Liquid Fence can be purchased at hardware stores like Home Depot.
To learn more about Stoney Creek Farm, visit their Website.
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