Healthy Growing
By Sandy Smith, natural gardening expert
This article was originally published in the February edition of Fusion
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With below-0 temps and many inches of snow in some areas, it's hard to remember what the summer garden looked like. But a productive, healthy garden starts with early planning. So snuggle into a fleece shirt and your fuzzy feet, grab a mug of hot tea, get pen and paper, and let's draw some plans.
Most people think a garden has to be this huge square of land "that they don't have, or that takes up the whole
yard." Not so!! Be creative. Raised gardening is great for smaller areas. It's easier to keep the soil workable, you
can walk around it to plant, weed and trim, and you can choose a shape that pleases you. Try concrete blocks to
build your garden; these blocks won't rot and make it easier to do multiple levels. Plant marjoram, thyme and
oregano along the edges of these blocks - they will creep down and cover the block, giving you beauty, fragrance
and fresh herbs to cook with. Beware of using railroad ties or landscaping timbers, as they are treated with
chemicals that leach into the soil as they deteriorate.
Take some time and sketch your house; think about what you have growing there, and consider in which direction
the sun comes up and sets . Which areas get morning or afternoon sun; is there an area that gets sun all day?
Do you have areas where spring bulbs leave empty areas until the summer flowers kick in? I used to, but I cleared
all the high maintenance stuff out and put in things that take minimum effort for maximum growth. Herbs tend to
discourage weeds, so use them abundantly.
Full sun all day is where you want major veggies, tomatoes, corn, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, okra, peppers, etc.
Think height when planning who goes where; think “descending heights.” Do you have a fence, especially a chain
link fence, that is ugly? Plant blackberries, raspberries, or grapes. Put in dill, fennel, sage and German
chamomile—they get tall and bushy, and they bloom and smell great.
Arbors are great—they add interest to your yard, and are a great place to grow cucumbers and beans. Put four plants or hills, if growing from seed, on both sides of the inner part of the arbor, then just guide the vines as they start to climb. In no time the arbor will be covered with blooms. Under the bean arbor, plant oregano, as it enhances the flavor of the beans. Oregano also repels insects that attack broccoli, so use it there also. Parsley, both Italian and curly, will do well under your cucumber arbor.
Do you have 2-3 feet of soil between your garage and walk way? If so, and the space gets at least 1/2 day of sun,
put in garlic and regular chives all along the wall of the garage. They have height and lovely blooms. In front of
them put in cilantro, and purple. Genovese, sweet, lemon, Thai and Italian basil. Finish up with oregano, marjoram
and thyme in front of your basils, and you have a walkway that smells like heaven, and is full and green from
spring till fall.
If you have roses, plant garlic around them. Garlic and roses, like oregano and beans, have a great relationship and
compliment each other. Plant carrots and green onions together - carrots are a long-root, and onions a short-root
plant, so when planted next to each other they do not interfere with each other’s growth.
Squash, melons, and pumpkins take a lot of room—try planting along the side of the house, or along the deck with
a 12" push in the ground fence to keep them in check. Want potatoes but don't have space? Try potato bags—
they look like a collapsible laundry hamper, but are made out of material that lets water drain out, and can be set
anywhere you get sun. Use one bag for sweet potatoes, one bag for regular potatoes, and one for large onions too.
If you are thinking of mint or catmint in or around the garden, precautions must be taken to confine their root system. Plant them in a pot so that the roots stay confined; otherwise, they will take over your garden. They also get tall and bushy, so large space is a must.
Next month we will talk about growing organically and soil preparation.
Think Spring!
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Also in this issue (click to view):
Q & A: Urinary Tract Infections in Cats
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