Dig In To Gardening!
The sun's just peeking over the horizon on a warm spring day. I smell the earthy aroma of dirt between my fingers. It's my time to relax, listen to the birds sing and get some exercise.
This is a typical day in my life as a gardener.
My garden-in-waiting.Why gardening?
Gardening is great because it provides:
GardeningGardening is a hobby for me. I sow the plants, tend to them, watch them grow, and harvest the crop.
And here's the greatest part! I get to harvest and enjoy what I cultivate!
Close- Exercise—it's a free way to get into shape for summer.
- Good food—growing your own food helps save money on our grocery bill (less sweat for the 'rents).
- FUN—it's exciting to watch plants grow on account of your labor.
- Relaxation—it doesn't require much mental effort, and allows time to think.
- Outdoor time—you aren't cooped up in the house, and you get to avoid the summertime blues.
- Money—your parents might pay you for saving them so much money!
Get Into ShapeHere's your exercise routine:
- Plant the seeds—that means up and down, over and over.
- Water the sprouting seeds every morning. That means get moving!
- Get rid of those pesky weeds—that means on your hands and knees! (My mom and I are the only ones in my family that can mildly tolerate the work.)
This may seem like a lot of jobs, but once you get the plants started, you have a much easier time.
Just think! You don't need to pay for a health club!
Close Good Food When you grow your own, you get healthy food, easy for you to get hold of, at your disposal.
Do you prefer sugary snacks? Well, believe it or not, vegetables and fruits have natural sugars.
They taste great, and are much better for you. Besides cucumbers, I also like tomatoes. They are very delicious on salads, and even just plain.
Last, you don't get the unhealthy pesticides and insecticides that are on today's crops.
Close It's Fun! You get to watch the process of nature as you observe your plants growth, and you get to nurture them.
They are the product of your hard work.
Feels good, doesn't it?
Close Save MoneyMy favorite plants to grow are cucumbers. The range of prices for cucumber seeds online is from 99 cents to $2.79.
Each plant usually yields quite a few cucumbers—two or three a week, or roughly 25 a season!
Cucumbers in the store can cost 89 cents apiece. Multiply those 89 cents by 25 and you've spent $22.25 on just cucumbers!
And if you grow tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, peas, squash, just think about how much you will have to either spend or save!
Close Are you interested yet? Then it's time to start your own garden.
Dig before you plant...
What if you don't have your own land for a garden?Join a Community Garden If you don't have your own land, or your land isn't suitable, look into getting a plot of land at a local community garden, or starting your own!
My class went on a field trip to a community garden near us, and we had a blast. You can see all different cultures, with different styles and different tastes come together in one area.
On our field trip, I met this really kind lady who grew the biggest rhubarb, about four feet in diameter.
That's huge! Community gardens work great, and you get to meet lots of new people!
CloseFirst pick a plot of land with
good exposure to the sun and good soil. Make sure that the spot you pick fits the size of garden you want.
Good Sun Good Soil 
Find an area that gets sun from the east, because the morning sun is much easier on the plants than the afternoon sun.
It's great if there are trees on one side, so they protect the plants from sunlight the rest of the day.
Make sure your spot has good soil—not too wet (doesn't puddle after it rains), but not too dry either. Usually a place where grass grows well works great.
CloseYou can also make a cool-shaped garden. Just don't make it too crazy.
Make a Cool ShapeMy garden is in a sort of "L" shape.
If I could choose the shape of my garden, I would make it a map of the United States.
Then, I could say that I'm planting peas in Florida!
CloseAfter you pick your spot, dig it up, but not before you have your parent's permission.
Once you get permission, grab your trusty shovel and go to work.
You only need to dig down about three inches into the soil, just enough to get the grass and weeds out of the ground.
Time to plant
If you use seeds, start indoors and start early.
If You Use Seeds
CloseIf you want to buy seeds instead of seedlings, start them indoors, and start early.
Set up a table, and plant them in small pots with potting soil.
The advantage of this method is the small pots are very easy to work with and are much less money than seedlings.
Once the
last risk of frost is gone, and you're pretty sure that it's springtime, it's time to plant!
The exact date varies each year, but once it hits 60- or 70-degree weather, you can start to plant.
If you buy seedlings (baby plants), get them at the farmer's market or at a garden store.
The advantage of these is that they usually survive longer and produce more fruit. The only disadvantage is that they are more costly than buying seeds.
Dig a hole big enough to put your plant in, place the roots in the ground and give it plenty of water. Make sure that your plant is packed hard enough in the dirt to be steady, and not at the mercy of the wind.
Read on to find out how to care for your plants...
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