Growing Your Own Fruit and Vegetables

Let’s face it! We all buy fruit and vegetables at the grocery store. And sometimes it can seem like we pay a lot for a little. The quality of store-bought fruits and veggies can fluctuate dramatically, as can the price. But those people who plant and harvest their own vegetables and fruit not only enjoy a far tastier, healthier product, they often save money as well!

Your first step is to choose which vegetables and fruits you’d like to raise. Your local climate will have an effect on what plants you can grow and when. Then, consult a seed catalogue to order your seeds. Planting seeds must happen at exactly the right time, so it’s a good idea to order them well in advance rather than waiting for them to appear in your local home store or nursery.

Hybrid Hype

Another reason to order this way, either from a paper catalog or an online catalog, is because these seed companies stock virtually every variety and hybrid known to man. A hybrid is a unique variety of fruit or vegetable that has specific desirable traits. One hybrid of cucumber may be more disease resistant. One hybrid of melon may require less moisture to grow. Some hybrids of tomatoes can be grown in cooler or warmer climates than others. A seed company will provide the information you need to choose the best hybrid for your garden.

Once you’ve got your seeds and planned your garden space and planting schedule, it’s time to plant! This is second only to harvesting as a gardener’s favorite activity. As you place the seeds into the earth, you can almost imagine the tiny young plants that will spring from the ground in a few short weeks.

With quality seed, good care, cooperative weather, and a bit of luck, you’ll be eating your own delicious fruits and vegetables sooner than you might think!

top