Getting Your Garden Going

If you're starting a garden this year, hopefully you read the first guest post in this series. (If not, go back and read it!)

May is the time to begin planting. You want to wait until there is no danger of frost before planting. In even the northern states, this can be done by May 15th. So, now its time to gather up the things you need to get your garden going.

If you didn't till your soil, make sure you at least dig into it a while to loosen up the soil. Then, stake out your rows. Different plants need different amounts of space, which is clearly marked on the packages. Make sure to plant right in a row. We ran string along our rows for the planting – this helps you figure out what belongs and what is just a weed. You should also surround your garden with wire fencing, to keep the rabbits out.

What should you plant? It depends on what you like. We plant mostly what I can easily freeze, plus cucumbers because my husband loves them. This year well have peas, green beans, carrots, cucumbers, cantaloupe (a new addition this year), scallions, peppers, broccoli, and tomatoes. We've tried corn but haven't had as much luck with it. We also have raspberries, strawberries, and rhubarb, but those are plants you only need to plant once, and will keep growing year after year. We were lucky enough to have a cherry tree when we moved in, too – so we get lots of produce each year!

Some plants do better with staking as they grow. We stake cucumbers, peas, tomatoes, and peppers. You also should be aware that its better to start tomatoes and green peppers from established plants, especially in the northern states.

Is gardening worth it? Here's just a little cost tidbit. We have our garden already established, so our yearly costs are just the seeds we get. With peppers, we got 18 plants for $10. So if each one produces just one plant, I'm ahead with what they cost at most grocery stores. Obviously your return on investment the first summer isn't that great, but if you look over the long run, you definitely make your money back within just a few years!

Bekah blogs at Motherhood Moment where she shares tips about saving money and time, family-friendly meal ideas and eco-friendly advice, activities, and much more.

What types of things do you typically plant in your garden? We are (or I should say DH is) tilling the garden area THIS weekend. I will be printing this post and taking it with me to get my seeds/plants for planting!

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