Have you ever thought about growing your own garden? Growing a garden is not only fun and rewarding, but the fruits and vegetables of your labor will bring more nutritious ingredients to your dinner table. There’s no better time to get started than this month, in honor of Earth Day on April 22nd! Celebrate nature and Mother Earth by going green. Get ready to dig into these tips on how to grow your own garden.
1. Choose the location
Location, location, location! The location of your new garden should have ample access to sunlight. Most fruits and vegetables require five to eight hours of sunlight during the day, whereas leafy greens and herbs can flourish in partial shade. The location should also have good water drainage to avoid over-watering the roots, as well as a non-windy spot (or you could risk having your vegetables knocked over).
2. Choose nutrient-rich soil
Soil is what feeds your plants. Lay the groundwork in your garden with fertile, nutrient-rich soil – this is key to having your garden grow. You can mix compost and natural fertilizer as well as organic matter (like used coffee grounds, for instance) to help your plants grow even more. Benefits of mixing organic matter include: making soil ideal for most fruits and vegetables to thrive, making soil easier to dig and work with, improving drainage, and many more.
3. Choose your fruits and vegetables
Now, the fun part – choosing your fruits and vegetables for your garden! During the spring season, the following spring foods are RM3®-approved: Asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, mushrooms, onions, kale, spinach, celery, lettuce, apples, and strawberries. Get together with your family and discuss which healthy foods are your favorites. Easy vegetables to start with that are RM3®-approved include: tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, spinach, kale, and zucchini.
4. Plant your high-quality seeds
Invest in high-quality seeds to ensure your garden’s success. Start to consider where each plant will go and when to plant them. Spring is the perfect time to start a garden because you can accommodate both “cool season” vegetables, like lettuce and broccoli, and “warm season” vegetables, like tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini. Space each seedling out in the soil, and stagger the timing on your planting so that you won’t have to harvest all the vegetables at the same time.
5. Harvest your garden
As the days and weeks pass, be sure to properly water and nurture your garden. Soon enough, it will be time to harvest! Collect your vegetables and look on the Red Mountain Recipe app® for inspiration. A few of our favorite RM® recipes with garden-fresh ingredients include: Tomato Basil Chicken, Cucumber and Strawberry Salad, and Garlic Kale & Mushrooms.
