Grow More by Setting Vegetable Gardening Goals

Have you ever stopped to think about your vegetable gardening goals? If you are like many gardeners, you may find your main motivation is simply to get outside and reconnect with nature by digging in the dirt. You may also enjoy gardening as a way to squeeze more physical activity into an otherwise hectic schedule. Without question, growing a vegetable garden is a very relaxing way to accomplish these goals.

A sense of personal satisfaction and better overall health are admirable and worthwhile objectives on their own. However, if you dig a little deeper you may find you have a number of other goals for your vegetable garden. If you find you are short on gardening space, clearly defining these goals before you begin growing will make it a lot easier to achieve them.

For example, if you want to reduce your monthly grocery bill throughout the year by preserving part of your harvest, you’ll need to figure out how much you can actually grow in the space you have available. Even if you just want to grow enough so your family can enjoy fresh produce during the warmer months, you’ll still need to figure out what you want to grow and how to make it work within your personal space and time constraints.

Take Stock of Your Personal Resources 

Time and space may prevent you having a garden this big. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In most cases, the amount your garden can produce will be defined by the amount of resources you can devote to it. Therefore, you’ll want to ask yourself the following questions:

1. How much time do you have to work in your garden?
2. How much space do you have available to plant?
3. If you plan to preserve part of your harvest, where will you store it?
4. What is your budget?

This last question is often overlooked, but it is very important because financial considerations will determine how much you can invest in seeds, transplants or other supplies. Honest answers to all of these questions will ensure you don’t get in over your head or become discouraged before you’ve had a chance to see results. Defining the amount of resources you have available upfront will allow you to set more achievable vegetable gardening goals.

Plus, it’s always easier to overcome a challenge once you clearly define it. Taking stock of your current situation can help you find creative solutions to potential challenges. For example, perhaps you can overcome a small budget by swapping seeds with neighboring gardeners or online communities. If you are short on growing space, maybe you can take advantage of unused vertical space along a sunny wall.

Define the End Results You’d Like to Achieve

Once you’ve developed a clear picture of what you have to work with, you can set realistic gardening goals. Make a list of the fruits, vegetables and herbs you use most in your cooking and highlight your most important “must-have” items. This will help you focus your resources on what matters most to you and will make it much easier if you decide to scale back your plans later.

As you can see, there are many benefits to setting vegetable gardening goals. Once you have a clear picture of what you’d like to get out of your vegetable garden, you’ll have a better idea of what you need, and what you can reasonably accomplish.

3 Easy Ways to Extend Your Vegetable Growing Season

If you live in an area with distinct seasons, there are natural limitations to when you can grow vegetables outdoors. In the spring, you have to wait until the threat of frost has passed and soil temperatures reach acceptable levels. Then, before you know it, shorter days and cooler temps will return to signal the end of your outdoor growing season. Unfortunately, we've already reached this season here in Ohio.... :-( 

Of course, it’s difficult to fight Mother Nature - especially if you hope to win. However, if you learn to work within the boundaries she sets, you can find successful ways to extend your vegetable growing season.

Here are Three Easy Ways to Extend Your Vegetable Growing Season

While you can’t prevent late spring frosts or early blasts of winter, you can mitigate much of the damage caused by these natural events. You simply have to be prepared to provide adequate protection for your tender plants when the need arises.

1. Mulch. Adding a heavy layer of mulch is the easiest way to provide protection for your plants. Mulching around your plants provides a layer of insulation for the soil when temperatures dip too low. It will also help hold in moisture as temperatures rise so you won’t have to water as much.

There are many types of mulch available, including shredded leaves, wood chips, grass clippings, straw and compost. Whatever type of mulch you choose for your food growing area, check to ensure it is free of chemical pesticides and herbicides. For example, if you use a lawn service or chemical treatments to keep your lawn green and free of weeds, you wouldn’t want to use your lawn clippings on your vegetable garden.

A simple coldframe (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2. Cold Frames. Cold frames are another great way to extend your vegetable-growing season. A cold frame is simply a four-sided structure with a glass or plastic lid on top. They are used to trap in heat from the sun to keep plants warm when temperatures drop.

Cold frames are relatively easy to build. Start by creating a rectangular or square structure out of wood and securing an old glass window or door on top with hinges on one side. This will keep the top from blowing off in the wind and will make it easy to open and shut as you add and remove plants. Potted plants and seedlings can then be placed inside to harden them off or help them survive unexpected dips in temperature. (Just be sure to vent it or lift the lid if the temperature rises outside, so you don't cook your plants!)

In a pinch, you can create a makeshift cold frame with several bales of straw and an old glass window or door panel. Simply arrange the bales in a rectangle, while leaving the interior empty to house your plants. Top with a window or glass-paneled door and securely weigh it down on both ends so it doesn’t fly off in high winds. 

If neither of these options appeal to you, you can always buy a ready-made version at your local garden center or online. You’ll pay more for this option, but won’t have to go through the hassle of finding materials or investing the time to build it yourself.

3. Build a Greenhouse. For many gardeners, a greenhouse is the ultimate gardening dream. How great would it be to have a permanent year-round space to nurture and grow your favorite plants? As an added bonus, a well-designed greenhouse can serve as a beautiful focal point for your property, as well.

Unfortunately, hiring a contractor or purchasing a high-end kit to build a permanent greenhouse can get pretty expensive. Plus, you need to pay to heat the structure part of the year in colder climates. If you rent or have limited outdoor space, a permanent greenhouse may not be a viable option.

However, you can still enjoy many of the benefits a greenhouse offers without the high price tag or long-term commitment. There are a number of very affordable and portable mini-greenhouses available that are lightweight and have a small footprint. These options take advantage of vertical space by providing four or five substantial shelves to house your plants.

With a little planning, these three methods can extend your vegetable growing season. Once you get started, you may be surprised by how much more productive your gardening efforts become!

What To Do With Your Fruit After The Harvest?

So you've put in the time and effort, and you're finally ready to sit down and reap the rewards of your fruit garden but... what exactly are you supposed to do with this bountiful harvest? Well, the simple answer is to chow down and eat it fresh, but there are other options too! There are a ton of different things you can do with your fruit once you've harvested it, and most of them don't take very long or require too much effort to enjoy. Here's just a look at some of the things you can do with your freshly picked fruit, other than eat it right away that is.

Fresh strawberry jam. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Jellies, jams, and preserves – If you've ever shopped for fruit preserves you've probably seen the outrageous prices on processed, store bought jams and jellies full of nasty preservatives and artificial additives that are most decidedly not good for you. Instead, with just a little research and a few supplies you can turn your fresh fruits into jams, jellies, and preserves that you can enjoy right away - or later on down the road! Just be sure to properly label and date your jars (or whichever storage container you choose) so you know what you're coming back to later.

A more immediate solution to your delicious fruit usage needs is to turn them into something you can eat and enjoy right away! Fruit is a core part of many different recipes and the fresher the fruit the better. Take the time to get recipes for your favorite pies or cobblers and get baking! Got extra apples? Turn them into tasty fresh cider or a delicious batch of apple sauce. You can even try your hand at natural fermentation and make some hard cider. The only limits you'll run into are your imagination and your appetite.

Last and definitely not least, you can give your fresh fruit to your friends and family. Fruit makes great gifts! Pick and choose from your harvest and personalize each gift basket with its recipient's favorite fruity snacks. Or do a mix of all three choices and deliver a set of jams or a fresh baked pie or cobbler to your neighbors. What good is having all these tasty treats if you can't share and enjoy them with those closest to you?

When it comes to the things you can do with tasty, delicious fresh fruit the possibilities are nearly endless but I'm sure you can come up with something. You worked hard all season, now's the time to kick back, relax, and enjoy all the tasty fruits that you've worked for.

Top Tips For Fruit Gardening

When it comes to gardening, the basic concepts are easy to grasp. Make sure that you keep your plants well taken care of, keep them watered, make sure they're getting enough light, keep them free of pests, etc. A lot of it is common sense, but it never hurts to have a few extra tips on hand for taking care of your fruit garden. Whether you're a seasoned gardening pro or a greenhorn green thumb beginner, here's a few ideas for your fruit garden that you should keep in mind as you plant, maintain, and harvest the literal fruits of your labor.

Patience is key, especially if you're growing fruit trees; it's not uncommon for fruit trees to take several years before you have success with them. Very much unlike regular seasonal fruit plants, you should prepare for a long term care investment because it will pay off in the long run when you can enjoy the fresh fruit of your choice on a hot summer's day.

Peach tree. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On top of not bearing fruit right away, some trees will have “off” years and not bear fruit at all. Keep track of how often these fruitless years occur and plan accordingly.I know you've probably heard enough about waiting for your fruit, but you should also remember not to pick too early. If your fruit seems too firm, leave it on the branch or vine a little longer to ripen up. Not only do ripened fruits taste better and have a fuller flavor, they're also better for you! Ripened fruits have more natural fruit sugars (which results in that mouth watering sweet flavor) and are also rich in antioxidants as well. Waiting to pick helps you feel as good as it tastes! On the flip side, make sure not to wait too long to pick your fruits or they could end up overripe and, eventually, inedible.

Finally, make sure to check your fruits regularly to avoid disease or infestation. The last thing you want after you've worked so hard on your garden is to have someone or something else feasting on the rewards! Be sure to check for common signs of insect or animal damage and be sure to make a note of signs that something may be wrong with your plants, like discoloration of the leaves, or a lack of proper growth. A healthy garden is a happy garden. If your plants get sick, aren't receiving proper nutrients, or are attacked by wildlife or insects then you could end up with nothing to show for all of the effort you put into your fruit garden.

Gardening of any kind is a time consuming effort, but successful fruit growers will tell you it's worth it. You'll know from the first time that you sink your teeth into a fresh, juicy strawberry or crisp apple that it was totally worth the days and weeks you spent making sure that your garden turned out perfect!

The 5 Best Fruits for Beginner Gardeners

The delicious taste of fresh fruit on a warm spring or hot summer's day can be one of the best things in the world, but let's face it, not everyone knows how to grow it well. In fact for many of us who don't have a background in farming or gardening, it can seem like a difficult task to grow even the simplest of crops even with a basic or easy to tend garden - let alone tackling tricky fruits. The good news, however, is that there are plenty of fruits out there that are easy to grow, giving even beginner gardeners a great place to start and get used to gardening even if they don't have much or any experience with t to begin with.

Here's a list of the five best fruits to start with as a beginner gardener - or anyone new to growing fruit:

1. Strawberries – Good on shortcake but even better ripe and sweetly warm from the sunshine fresh from the garden. Strawberries are easy to plant and just as easy to maintain, making them a top choice for gardeners who are just getting started. You don't have to be a pro to grow and enjoy these delicious berries in a garden bed or balcony planter.

2. 

   Summer berries. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

   Raspberries/Blackberries – A summertime staple, raspberries and blackberries are delicious straight from the vine, baked into a pie, or turned into a jelly or jam with your morning toast. These berries in particular are hardy and easy to grow, but may take some special maintenance or you run the risk of the thorny vines overtaking more than their allotted space. Make sure to pick up a pair or clippers or trimmers and a good pair of gloves and you should be fine.

3. Tomatoes – Is it a fruit or a vegetable? Science says fruit and gardeners say easy! These delicious, juicy red fruits are great in a salad or stewed into a tasty tomato sauce for Italian cooking. With the wide range of available gardening accessories you can grow tomatoes even if you don't have a lot of space by using hanging planters.

4. Blueberries - If you want a fruit you can enjoy near the end of summer then blueberries have your back! All you need is some acidic soil to grow them in (it's what they like best and you can get organic acidifying agents at your local home improvement or gardening center) and you've got delicious blueberries for all of your tasty fruit pies and jams!

5. Goji Berries – You may have heard of them before, as they are often considered a “superfood” with all kinds of natural, healthy properties. Goji berries are incredibly hardy, growing even in harsher hot or cold climates, which makes them easy to grow even if you live a little north or south of ideal growing conditions for other kinds of fruit and even in windy, coastal areas. Just make sure they have a spot they can enjoy the sun in and you're good to grow!

If you find yourself having trouble getting a handle on more difficult fruits, give these a try and you're sure to be enjoying delicious, fresh fruit in no time!

Finding The Space To Grow Fruit

How many times have you seen the prices of fresh produce and wished that you could just grow your own fresh fruits instead? It would be nice, but not everyone has the space available to grow a fruit garden in their yard or home... or do they? While any kind of gardening is a space intensive project, not having a huge area you can devote to your garden shouldn't prevent you from growing fruit at all. You just have to think creatively, plan out your space, and make some smart choices and before you know it you'll be biting into some fresh, juicy fruit for dessert!

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The first thing you need to do when planning out your limited space is to look at exactly how much you can or want to spare for your fruit, along with what kind of fruits you'd like to grow. Thinking logically of course, even a small fruit tree is going to take up a LOT more space than a patch of strawberries so you have to be prepared to work with what you have. When planning space many people often look outwards when in fact thinking upwards can do just as well. Try using poles or cages to give plants something to grow on that won't take up as much space as growing the plant out over more garden space. Hanging planters work well, too!

Speaking of planters, container gardening is a great way to get fruits growing in a smaller space. You can keep your plants exactly where you want them and, with proper care, make sure that they won't grow over or out of control. Planters can be anything as fancy as decorative ones you might find at a home improvement or gardening store, or as simple as a pot, barrel, can, or other space-appropriate container that your fruit plant will grow and thrive in.

Last but not least, don't feel like you have to grow a ton of fruit; you're not growing to stock a store, just your own fridge. Pick out which fruits you're interested in growing and do the math on how much space just those fruits growing will be taking up. If you end up under your limit and want to grow more, then great! If you end up over, simply plan on either scaling back how much you want to plant, or maybe cut back and even grow fruits in cycles, depending on what kind of fruit it is and how permanent the plants are.

The last thing that you should ever feel when you're planning your garden is that you won't be able to just because of limited space. Fruits are delicious, healthy, whole foods, and having them fresh off of the branch or vine is the best way to enjoy them. If you have the time, money, and are willing to put forth the effort to maintain your fruit garden, your space should be no obstacle to the sweet taste of victory!

Growing Fruit Trees: Worth The Wait?

Welcome back! We apologize for the lack of a post last week; after moving into our new house, we had some problems getting the internet up and running.... Thankfully we are connected now, and back in action! One of the things we are planning for our new property is to plant some fruit trees. So I figured it would be a good time to explore this topic for the next few weeks. This week, we're starting off by exploring the pros and cons of growing fruit.

Nectarine (Prunus persica) fruit development over a 7½ month period, from early winter to midsummer. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When you think about growing a garden you generally plan to plant seeds one afternoon, spend a few weeks to months taking care of them, and then finally having something you can cook or eat fresh right off of the vine or or out of the ground right away. Fruit trees on the other hand are a much longer investment of time and effort, but continue to yield results year after year even when other plants will have long since been harvested and replanted. If you're thinking about planting fruit trees, then you should make a few key decisions before you start and along the way.

First of all you have to decide if you want to reap the rewards of your work within a short period of time, or if you're actually willing to wait for your work to come to fruition (no pun intended). It can take years for a fruit tree to actually mature enough to start bearing fruit and it can be a long and arduous process of maintenance, pest control, and care that can end up failing and coming to nothing if you aren't prepared, or don't put in the proper time or effort. However, if you're the type of person who doesn't mind settling in for the long haul then you can enjoy delicious fresh fruit year after year once your tree has matured.

Something else that you should think about as you're deciding whether or not to plant fruit trees is what kinds of fruit you might want to grow. There are many factors that come into play when you decide to plant fruit trees such as the condition of your planting area (such as the yard space you have to work with and the quality of the soil) as well as the climate and seasonal harshness of the area you live in. Some places are great for growing fruit trees and will have no problems seeing your trees thrive and flourish, but if the area you live in is subject to harsh seasonal swings you may be limited in the types of fruit you can successfully grow.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One unique perk that fruit trees offer (one that you might not initially realize) is the value that it adds to your home and property. Even if you never plan on selling your home, think of what your fruit trees will offer to you, your family, your friends, and your neighbors. You don't just get the bonus of having a tasty treat you can pluck straight from the branches in your yard, you also have a healthy snack you send to school with your children, ingredients you can use in cooking for family get-togethers, fruit you can preserve for the winter in various ways or to give as gifts, or simply fresh fruit you can gather into a gift basket. The benefit of having fruit readily available is practically endless.

In the end what it all comes down to is whether or not you're willing to persevere through the hard work and long wait of your fruit tree maturing to the point it can actually bear fruit. Even if you start with a partially grown tree that you transplant you will still have to put in the effort of nurturing and acclimating it to its new home while also guarding its safety from insects and disease. If this is something that you think that you can do then planting a fruit tree is definitely worth the wait when you can finally sink your teeth into a crisp apple, juicy pear, or whichever delicious fruit you've decided to grow.

Be sure to stay tuned next week, when we'll discuss the first steps you'll need to think about when planting your fruit trees.