Module 01: Introduction

Everyone loves good food. Fresh, tasty, nutritious food is our birthright. And what better way to have great food than to grow it yourself? You don’t have to be a farmer to do so either. Whether it be a plot of land in the yard that’s tilled up to grow vegetables, a few vegetables planted amongst your flowers and shrubs, or containers loaded with attractive, edible choices, growing your own food is a satisfying and rewarding activity. Vegetable gardening isn’t rocket science either. Heck, people have been growing their own vegetables for thousands of years. Like any pursuit, you just need some direction, good advice, and inspiration to get started.

Growing your own vegetables, culinary herbs, and fruit brings an exceptional satisfaction to gardening. There are, of course, substantial savings to be made in turning a small investment on seed or plants into a regular supply of food for the table, whether you grow only a selection of choice seasonal crops, such as asparagus, or strive for self-sufficiency. For those concerned about additives in commercially produced food, there is the security of knowing exactly how your product has been grown. The exceptional pleasure of kitchen gardening lies, however, in the subtlety and freshness of flavour of crops gathered straight from your garden—a flavour that has not been diminished by long transportation, storage, or special packaging.

The decorative qualities of edible crops, whether grown in a dedicated plot or among conventional ornamental plants, are too little appreciated. Colourful blossom smothers fruit trees in spring, handsome foliage such as the ferny fronds of carrots or crinkly leaves of lettuces adorn the summer garden, and evergreen herbs and overwintering vegetables are enhanced by frost. Tree and soft fruits trained along walls and fences or over archways can be very attractive as well as productive.

Learning from experience

It is not surprising then that interest in growing fruit and vegetables is on the increase. Generations of professional gardeners, as well as individual backyard growers, have built up an impressive body of expertise and knowledge over the years. This volume sets out to continue the tradition by distilling that experience into an accessible format for the modern gardener.

The cultivation of food crops, more than any other form of gardening, demands commitment from the gardener. Knowledge of basic principles, thoughtful planning, good preparation, and, above all, time spent in the regular care of growing crops, are crucial to success. Failure in any of these leads to disappointing results and wasted time and money.

Those new to kitchen gardening would be wise to start on a modest scale but to plan the garden so that the area given over to food crops can expand with your experience. There is no ideal size for a kitchen garden because it depends on many variable factors such as family demand, the garden site, and personal abilities and preferences. The good news is that no garden is too small: crops can be grown in all sorts of containers, including window boxes.

In harmony with nature

Most gardeners have a particular affinity with the natural environment and fully appreciate the good sense of maintaining a natural balance of living organisms within the garden and of conserving natural resources. Many take the opportunity to run their kitchen garden entirely on organic lines. It is not necessary to grow produce that is totally free of blemishes or to extract the maximum possible yield from every plant—as is the case with commercial cultivation. A reasonable level of pests and diseases can be tolerated in the garden, and there are means of recycling organic waste and of using water wisely.

Increasing choice

The wide range of fruit, vegetables, and culinary herbs reflects the modern gardener’s interest in growing an increasing variety of crops. Most of the crops can be reliably grown outdoors in temperate climates, although some, such as peppers and peaches, produce better quality crops for a longer season undercover. The prospect of climate change, and the popularity of the greenhouse, however, raise new possibilities; so tender fruits such as citrus and pineapples are covered—to fire the imagination.

The introduction of new cultivars (garden varieties), often with an improved quality or genetic resistance to a pest or disease, is a great boon to the kitchen gardener. To help you choose from the bewildering number of cultivars now available, each crop covered in the course includes a core list of recommended cultivars. Your own experience will eventually be the best guide. The comprehensive information in this text will provide a good grounding for you to develop your own style of kitchen gardening. Never forget the principles, keep abreast of new developments, and, above all, take time to enjoy your garden.

Why Have Your Own Vegetable Garden?

Over the years, people had drifted away from vegetable gardening in the spirit of progress and affluence. However, more recently, people are once again realising that growing their own food, although not as critical to survival as it once was, is an important part of a healthy body, mind, spirit, lifestyle, and community. More people are again turning to vegetable gardening as a means of food and as a hobby. Even the president and first lady have installed a vegetable garden at the White House. Vegetable gardening is officially back.

But vegetable gardening isn’t just about taste. It’s about safe food that’s produced close to home. It’s about knowing what has been sprayed on that food. It’s about feeding your friends and family nutritious food that’s high in vitamins and antioxidants (cancer-fighting compounds). It’s about connecting with your neighbours and community as you experiment with ethnic dishes using exotic ingredients grown in your not-so-exotic backyard. It’s about reducing pollution and global warming by not buying produce that’s shipped hundreds of miles to your local grocery store. Finally, it’s about reclaiming your ability to grow some of your own food, even if it’s a container of basil, to have a little more control in your life.

A Few Good Reasons to Grow Your Own Food

Food gardens aren’t just in backyards anymore. People grow food in containers on decks and patios, in community gardens, at schools, at senior centres, and even in front yards for everyone to see. Food gardens are beautiful and productive, so why not let everyone enjoy the benefits?

The advantages of growing your own food:

• Improve your health

We all know we’re supposed to eat more fruits and vegetables every day. It isn’t just good advice from mom. Many vegetables are loaded with vitamins A and C, fibre, water, and minerals such as potassium. A growing body of research shows that eating fresh fruits and vegetables not only gives your body the nutrients and vitamins it needs to function properly, but it also reveals that many fruits and vegetables are loaded with phytochemicals and antioxidants — specific compounds that help prevent and fight illness.

While specific vegetables and fruits are high in certain nutrients, the best way to make sure you get a good range of these compounds in your diet is to “eat a rainbow.” By eating a variety of different-coloured vegetables and fruits, you get all the nutrients you need to be healthy.

While eating fruits and vegetables is generally a great idea, the quality and safety of produce in grocery stores has been increasingly compromised. Whether it’s Salmonella on jalapeño peppers or E. coli in spinach, warnings seem to be happening every year. What better way to ensure a safe food supply free of biological and pesticide contamination than to grow your own? You’ll know exactly what’s been used to grow those beautiful crops.

• Save some cash

You can save big money by growing your own vegetables and fruits. In fact, depending on the type and amount you grow, you can save hundreds of pounds. By spending a few pounds on seeds, plants, and supplies in spring, you’ll produce vegetables that yield pounds of produce in summer. Instead of having to go to the grocery store to buy all that produce, you’ve got it ready for the picking for free in your yard. It’s your own personal production department! You’ll save hundreds of pounds on your grocery bill each year by growing a garden.

• Help the environment

Your tomatoes, lettuces, and melons from the grocery store cost more than just the price to produce them. Increasingly, produce is being imported from foreign countries, such as China and Chile. The fossil fuels used to transport these vegetables increases air pollution and global warming. So, one of the big-picture reasons for growing your own produce is to fight these effects on our planet.

• Increase your quality of life

A less tangible (but still important) reason to grow your own vegetables is related to the quality of life. Vegetable gardening is a great way to unwind after a hard day. You can achieve a simple pleasure and satisfaction in roaming through your garden, snacking on a bean here and a cherry tomato there, pulling a few weeds, watering, and enjoying the fruits of your labours. It’s an immediate, simple satisfaction in a world that so often is complicated and complex.

Often community gardens become a focal point for neighbourhood beautification, education, and development projects. When the gardens are sown, people start taking increased interest and pride in their neighbourhood and how it looks. Often crime, graffiti, and vandalism are reduced just by creating a garden where people can gather together. And you thought all you were doing is growing a few vegetables.