After we have established the many benefits growing our own food has on the environment, our society and ourselves in yesterday’s post, it’s time to start thinking about actually growing. Like most things, the more we plan and understand the better our result will be. Although gardening can be fun, why not be efficient and put that energy to use.

How to Grow Food? Plan a Garden.

Today we will discuss how to plan a garden for production, such as a vegetable or herbal garden.

Step 1. Determining the type of garden

There are many types of gardens. The first step to planting a garden is to determine its purpose. Functions of a garden may include art and aesthetics, production, drain water management or recreational. At the Rooftop Kitchen, Our focus will be on gardens for food production.

Step 2. Chose a Site

Once we have chosen our purpose we must think about selecting a location. The location or site must suit the need of your purpose; remember it is in the interaction between your garden and its surrounding environment that brings us to the result. The more suitable the conditions the greater your harvest will be. We all can appreciate a good harvest.

The Vegetable Garden

While the specifics for each plant will be different there are still general guidelines to follow when choosing a site for a vegetable garden. Sunlight is the great source of almost all life on earth. Plants love it. A typical vegetable garden should receive up to 8 to 10 hours of full sun each day. Soil is another concern. Specific plants require specific soil types and characteristics. Deep, well drained soil is recommended along with a steady supply of water and a level location.

Herbal gardens do not require as much attention as vegetables as herbs are usually heartier. Most herbs will grow in nutrient poor locations but still need to be planted in well draining soil. Check for specifications on each herb.

Step 3: Determine Restrictions

The next step to planning a garden is admitting our limitations. While planting boundlessly would be a wonderful idea in preparation for that post harvest meal, we must take not only our time and drive in consideration but also our location in respect to climate, altitude and overall space we can spare. Determine the overall space you have and correlate that with the amount of time you can devote. Generally a 400 square foot garden, that is 20 feet long by 20 feet wide, will require a minimum of a half hour a day in the early season. In late spring and summer maintenance will subside to at least a half hour every two to three days.

Step 4: Method of Growing

Now that we have considered our individual needs, we will have to find a way grow that suits them. The conventional method is to plant in open soil. The benefits of this approach are that it may require less initial effort and have a lower cost. Disadvantages will depend on where you are planting but usually stem from not being in control of the growing process. Plants in open soil may encounter such things as soil impurities or flooding.

Raised Bed Method

The raised bed method is used by many gardening experts planting outside with optimal space. Raised beds are freestanding garden beds constructed several or more inches above the natural terrain.

Benefits of a raised bed include:

• · Improves drainage
• · efficient use of soil amendments
• · soil warms up faster in the spring which can give you an earlier harvest
• · soil is less compacted as you usually do not walk on it
• · less bending as you plant, weed and water your garden
• · can be a better use of space in your garden
• · gives your garden a clean and tidy look
• · enhances your garden by adding structure
• · can be of any height to suit your needs
• · easy to trellis

Disadvantages of a raised bed include:

• · takes time and effort to build
• · some cost involved unless you can recycle materials in your garden
• · beds may need more watering in hot weather

Container Method

The Container Garden is more or less a downsized raised bed. It is the practice of growing plants exclusively in containers. The method is mostly used in places with limited space or unsuitable soil.

Benefits of container gardens:

• · Utilize Space
• · Mobility
• · Grow on non soil surfaces, such as patios
• · Can be done indoor
• · Less risk of soil-borne disease
• · Absence of weed problems

A Disadvantage of a container garden is that you are left with a limited crop yield or not as much food at harvest time.

Hydroponic Method

Hydroponics is a practice where planting is done in mineral nutrient solution instead of soil. In terms of growing it is a relatively new practice and many different techniques are used. Benefits are generally those of less reliance on the plants environment.

Step 5: Choosing Plants

To choose a plant that will grow well for your garden, compare the plants needs with your contingencies and method of growing. Another thing to consider when selecting plants for your garden is the economic value of crops. Select plants based upon what you will be using in your kitchen.

The key to getting the most out of your gardening is to never stop evaluating and being aware of your conditions. Trial and error will be your finest assistant.

Best of luck,

Jimi Demetriou