Although it’s still more or less the middle of the winter, with even more cold weather and snow forecast for later this week, gardeners have their eye on the prize and are looking forward to the upcoming growing season with keen anticipation! How does one anticipate the warm months when, bs”d, seeds will miraculously sprout, vines will grow high and wide, and the long-awaited fruits of one’s labor are ready for harvesting?
Besides just thinking about what the great
outdoors will have in store, there are actually concrete steps that can be
taken, even at this early stage. Now is the time to peruse seed catalogues and
decide what vegetables you would like to grow. In addition to having a much
greater variety of seed (and plant) offerings, seed catalogues – available
through the mail or online – also give you much more information about their
seeds: i.e., disease resistance, time to harvest, anticipated size, etc. Like
any other important endeavor where you would like the best chance of success,
careful planning is the key.
Growing seeds from “scratch” is really not
that hard to do, although you will need to know some gardening basics for this
project: the best kind of planting pot, the right kind of potting soil, an
effective grow-light source, when to plant which seeds, and watering
techniques. But growing your plants from seeds is truly magical, and I never
tire of seeing the miracle of tchi’as zera’im
occur year after year – it’s so exciting! Your kids (and grandkids) will love
seeing this as well.
* * *
Of course, you can choose to buy plant
seedlings later on in the spring. (Here, a trip to Valley View Farms is
warranted.) These seedlings will be about six to eight inches in height and
should be ready to plant outdoors in your garden bed; but your selection will
be limited, and you will have less information about your plants. Also, these
ready-made seedlings will be much more expensive (per plant) than those you might
grow from seeds.
Transplanting seedlings to your
well-prepared garden bed is an exciting time – not to mention a bit labor
intensive, depending upon the size of your garden. Getting your garden bed
prepared is a key factor in the future success of your gardening endeavor, and
many factors have to be taken into consideration: choosing the right garden
spot, getting rid of grass and weeds, breaking up the soil, checking soil
chemistry (pH and alkalinity), and adding nutrients to the soil before
planting. All this is imminently doable, as long as you know what to do!
Putting your baby plants into the great outdoors is a big step for them, and
you will need to know how to take care of them so that they have a good chance
of growing to maturity and producing your amazing and delicious vegetables.
Some of the things to keep in mind are
proper spacing when planting (not too close together; each vegetable is
different), staking your plants (keeping them off the ground), protecting them
from disease and fauna (both the six-legged and four-legged varieties),
watering effectively (not just a shpritz
here and there), mulching (a ground cover around your plants to inhibit weed
growth and keep in moisture), and pruning and training your vines. These are
some of the things that are not that hard to do but nevertheless require
educating yourself as to the dos and don’ts of effective gardening. When and
how to harvest your beautiful garden fruits are also something for you to learn
so that you can get the best results from your garden, no matter what its size.
* * *
Of course, picking fresh vegetables from
the garden is a big attraction to growing your own. There is simply no
comparison to vegetables bought in the store to the amazing taste of
fresh-picked tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini, string beans, peas,
broccoli, cauliflower, and chard, etc., etc. One of our favorite vegetables to
grow is winter squash (butternut, buttercup, acorn, delicata – to name just a
few), which can be stored in a cool, dry place throughout the winter. Our
basement works well for us, stored in large plastic bins. These delicious
squashes will stay fresh and last even into the spring; I still have about 50
pounds of various winter squashes stored away in the basement! You might even
save some money at the grocery, and nobody complains about that either.
For me, however – and perhaps for you, as
well – there is a bigger draw to having a garden: The fact is, it is
surprisingly therapeutic. It is mentally calming. There is a great feeling of
being in touch with the Creator, of partnering with Him, of seeing His beri’ah up close and personal. From the
germination of a seed to the production of the fruit, there is a great feeling
of accomplishment. People have often asked me how I find the time to garden – I’ve
been doing this for over 60 years – and my favorite answer is, “It’s much
cheaper than therapy.” And, here is another benefit: Your kids and grandkids
can help and learn that vegetables come from Hashem, grown in the garden, and
don’t grow in the grocery store! And, even another great side benefit: You get
to give away all your extra vegetables and do mishloach manos for much of the summer and into the fall! It’s
wonderful to share this gift with others; here’s a perfect opportunity to be a
giver and do chesed, another chance
to fulfill the mitzvah of vehalachta
bidrachav.
Do you think you want to give it a try?
Please join me and sign up for my 2025 Vegetable Garden Clinic and learn how to
make it work. Knowing what to do is halfway to your gardening success!
