Welcome to Shirley’s vegetable gardening column.  Each month I will be giving pointers on how to make the most of the least when you are gardening.   Although summer is nearly gone (for some in the north), there is still time to make a second planting of quick growing vegetables such as green or yellow beans, lettuce, radishes and patio tomatoes (if you can still find them in garden centers). 

 

The best way to start is a small salad garden.   It would be convenient to have the garden close to your kitchen door or house, so you could pick fresh vegetables for a meal.  Choose favorite vegetables and decide how much space you have (there are dwarf varieties of some vegetables).  

 

Make sure the soil is worked up so that it is soft and without clumps.  Seed packets give directions for planting and growing times and space required.   A small garden needs some sunlight and water. 

 

Make sure you have a source of water nearby so the vegetables will receive the needed moisture.  Good drainage is also very important because the soil has to breathe.   Be sure to keep the weeds out as they rob the vegetables of moisture and sun.

 

If you don’t have a garden space, try planting seeds and plants in very large flower pots or five-gallon pails (can be picked up at hardware stores, or sometimes free from local restaurants (as they get pickles in them). 

 

First, make several small holes (with a drill or hammer and nail) in the sides of pail close to bottom and a few on the bottom,  for drainage.   Fill container to within 2-3 inches of top with quality soil (purchased at garden centers) and follow the seed packet directions and watch them grow.  Tomato and pepper plants do well using this method. 

 

I am growing pickling cucumbers in a 5-gallon pail and have inserted a tomato cage for the vines to climb.   I also added several strands of twine for the vines to climb.  Place potted pails outdoors near house or on patio for drainage.

 

If there are children in your family, please include them with the project because they love to see things grow and it will encourage them to eat their veggies. 

 

Good luck and happy gardening!