Day 14: Spring! (Gardening 101)

It's finally that time of year again, spring! Spring means warm weather, pretty flowers, and a lot of time outdoors. Spring also means planting time. Now is the time to start planting most of your crops for the year. If you have never planted a garden before and are considering it, make sure to weigh the benefits and the disadvantages. Some of the benefits of growing your own food include: easier access to healthy food, being able to eat food that you have just picked, and saving money. Some disadvantages include time consumtion and costing a little bit extra to get started, but in the long run it actually save you money.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/garden-planner/vegetable-garden-planner.aspx This planner is a good guide for when to plant crops and how to arrange them. When you get to the website, click "launch" and then sign up for an account. After you do this, you will have complete access for 25 days. It is a very useful and helpful tool.

The first thing you need to think about when considering starting a garden is whether or not you receive enough sunlight throughout the day to support the plants you will be planting. Most plants need around 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. If your home does not receive 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight a day, you might want to consider crops that do not require a lot of sunlight. You also need to test your soil. To test your soil, you can buy a test kit at your local hardware store or you can send your test sample to UGA to be tested. You can find out about UGA's testing at: http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/.

Herbs and vegetables are some of the easiest plants to start off with. If you have never grown anything before try going to your local hardware store and looking for window boxes. Window boxes attach to your window and allow enough room for herbs and small vegetables to grow in. These are ideal for the elderly, people living in apartments, and first time gardeners.

*Tip of the day* Don't go overboard with your garden this year, and make sure to check which plants grow in your area and which plants will work in your yard.

*Recipe of the day* http://www.recipe.com/savory-vegetables-1/
- This is a very easy recipe for yummy fresh vegetables. Make sure to buy organic or at your local farmers market.