A kitchen stocked with fresh, ripe produce is an excellent resource for your weight management journey. Fruits, vegetables and other crops are an abundant source of all kinds of nutrients necessary for optimal health – including vitamins, minerals, fiber, potassium and antioxidants! Who wouldn’t want fresh produce in their home?
Where to get that produce, however, is another question. For many, the increasingly high costs of produce, GMOs, poor proximity and questionable freshness are enough to deter them from purchasing through a grocery store. That’re where home-grown produce comes in hand — giving you the ability to grow your own favorite crops for double the freshness at a fraction of the cost!
Planting a Home Garden – What You Need to Know
Whether you’re a novice gardener or someone with a green thumb, here are a few key tips for anyone looking to grow the tastiest and healthiest produce possible:
- Know Your Terrain – How much sunlight do you get? What’s your soil type? How is your land shaped? Assessing the plot of land where you want to grow your produce garden will help you choose the appropriate garden size and selection of crops.
- Choose Your Garden Style – Whether you’re planting a raised garden, using specific planters or growing straight from your land, it’s important to know exactly what kind of garden you’re after. For tips on planting a container garden, please CLICK HERE.
- Pick Appropriate Crops – You’re going to want crops that you and your family will enjoy eating, will prove useful and do well in your environment.
- Do Plant Research – Not all plants behave the same way. After you’ve selected the types of crops you want to grow, research how often you need to water them, what types of food they respond well to, how much light they need and so on.
- Grab Your Tools – Gardening can be as simple or as complex as you make it, but a few staples include a sturdy pair of gloves, plant food, a shovel/spade, a watering container, a sun hat, clothes you’re not afraid to get dirty in and a pair of clippers.
- Have FUN! Gardening is a fun activity that can reap many practical and nutritional benefits, so don’t think of it as a chore! For added fun, try getting your family involved by seeking their opinion on crop selection and sharing the workload of tending to them.
Once you’ve planted your garden, be sure to wash your crops before eating them and incorporate them into tasty recipes that show off their flavor. Eating fruits and vegetables will never be the same again!
