Tips And Ideas For Home Kitchen Garden

Introduction

Raising fruit and vegetables in your own home kitchen garden gives you the opportunity to bring fresh vegetables and herbs directly from the plant into your cooking. The nutritional value of fresh-picked food exceeds the value of store-bought vegetables that have been picked, stored and shipped over time. You may have a large property for an expansive garden, or a small property where you can grow just a few things. Fortunately, even the smallest home kitchen garden can yield good crops throughout the growing season. You may have sufficient food from your garden to preserve a portion of it to use in the winter. But if you only have enough space to grow one or two things, go ahead an enjoy the flavor of homegrown tomatoes, herbs and other edible plants.

Step 1

A traditional home kitchen garden is grown near the back door of the house. This allows the cook to go outside, pick food items and promptly prepare them when they are at their prime. With modern homes, very close proximity to the kitchen may not be feasible, depending on the property configuration and position of the house. Don't let that discourage you from planting a home kitchen garden. There are many options, including splitting the garden up into separate sections. Tall, sun-loving plants like corn and tomatoes may be placed at the property's edge where they won't be shaded by the house. Plant salad greens, spinach and chard in beds nearer the house where they will thrive with partial protection from the hot sun. Other vegetables and fruit may grow best along a fence line or interspersed in flower beds where they will add visual interest to the landscaping.

Step 2

Dedicate a section of your home kitchen garden to growing herbs and aromatics that enhance the flavor of your meals. Many herbs can be dried or frozen to use in your cooking all through the year, even when the rest of the garden may be under snow. Favorite herbs that are easy to grow include parsley, thyme and basil. Just one or two plants of each kind provide sufficient leaves to season meat, poultry, pasta and side dishes during the spring, summer and autumn. A sage plant, some dill and plenty of marjoram and oregano bring variety into your meals. Grow aromatic vegetables like onions, leeks and garlic to bring succulent flavor to your roasts, casseroles and other savory dishes. Several types of hot peppers, ranging from mild to very spicy, will round out the home kitchen garden contribution to great, home-cooked meals.

Step 3

If you live in a condominium or apartment and have very little outdoor space, you can still grow a home kitchen garden. Simply create a container garden on your patio or deck. Use high-quality potting mix in the containers and pots to give your vegetable plants the best soil environment possible for growth. Incorporate a few potted marigolds, nasturtiums and petunias into your container garden to attract beneficial insects that will help with pollination. In addition to providing high quality food to enhance your family's meals, a container-style home kitchen garden can make a design statement. Adopt a monochromatic color scheme -- all blue pots and planting boxes, for example -- to give your small outdoor space a touch of elegance. Alternatively, terracota, metallic and wooden containers may be combined to create complementary visual appeal.

Tips

If you go away for the weekend or a vacation during the summer growing season, ask a trusted neighbor or friend to water your home kitchen garden during your absence so that the plants continue to thrive.

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