Gardening Concerns: How to Beat the Jitters

I’m occasionally invited to chat with various media about gardening-related topics. Garden Culture Magazine is passionate about plants, and we’re happy if we can inspire even one person ease their gardening concerns and either start growing or enhance their skills. A couple of weeks ago, I joined Elias Makos on CJAD 800 in Montreal. This time, it was apparent that people wanted to grow their food and medicine to keep things local, but a few things might be holding them back. They think:

• It’s too costly 
• They don’t have enough space
• That pests and diseases are inevitable
• Or they don’t know what to grow! 

Gardening and Rising Food Prices

We talked about how gardening is having a moment as people look for ways to combat rising food prices. I recently saw a small container of imported salad greens “on sale” for $8…yikes! That doesn’t go very far for the average family; it’s crazy when you can buy a packet of lettuce seeds or some seedlings for a few dollars and enjoy many salads over the growing season. It’s true that not everything you grow at home comes out cheaper. But a little can go a long way!

If you have the space, include edible perennial plants in your landscape, like blueberry bushes or black currants, Egyptian onions, chives, and more. You spend the money once and enjoy the harvests for years!

Gardening can be Discouraging

Elias mentioned he’s heard from many people who have tried growing food but have been too discouraged by pests and dying plants to continue. Gardening has its highs and lows, and I mentioned the time I cried (true story!) after the deer ate my harvest. But the beauty is that there’s always room for improvement, and we learn from our mistakes. Use natural repellents or netting to keep groundhogs, birds, and deer from invading your space. Did aphids infest your crops? Plant nasturtiums and marigolds close by for integrated pest management. If one crop fails for you, it doesn’t mean it won’t work the next time. It also doesn’t mean you’re a terrible gardener. Give another plant variety a try! 

Gardening is Expensive

We’ve all seen the funny reels that add up the cost of building materials for raised beds, the compost, soil, and seeds, and the gardener is ecstatic when they harvest 50 cents worth of radishes. Gardening isn’t a cheap hobby by any means. But you know how you can save big bucks at the grocery store? By growing culinary herbs. In my first condo in Montreal, my mom gave me tons of herb plants like basil, thyme, rosemary, and oregano to put in some stackable planters I had. My tiny, boring balcony was suddenly so pretty, and I loved harvesting herbs for my meals a few steps from the kitchen. Save yourself even more money by keeping a few pots on your windowsill year-round.

Growing Food in Small Spaces

While Elias and I were chatting on the air, a listener asked: How could she turn her balcony on the sixth floor of a high-rise apartment into a food garden? I love that question; many people don’t grow plants because they figure they don’t have the space. But you can grow quite a bit of food on an apartment balcony:

• Dedicate a corner to some containers with peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, and herbs. 
• Set up a trellis and grow a compact patio cucumber variety, pole beans, or peas. 
• Grow some potatoes in a 5-gallon bucket!
• Fill some hanging baskets with cherry tomatoes, strawberries, or mini cucumbers. 
• Don’t forget some flowers for a little extra joy (and to attract pollinators)!

Choosing What to Grow

Selecting the right plants for your garden may seem overwhelming. But the best thing you can do is list what you love eating and narrow it down. Consider the space you have available and the length of your growing season. If you choose things you like to eat, you’ll be much more dedicated to making it work, and you’ll enjoy the harvest that much more!

Happy gardening!