Nov
13
Vegetable Seeds
Filed Under Healthy Habits
It’s fall time here in California, the skies are gray most mornings and the temperature is dropping. We’re starting to get some rainy days and biking to work is getting a bit messier. So what does all this mean for someone who’s trying to stay in shape? Well for starters, it means it’s just about time to start shopping for vegetable seeds.
What the heck do vegetable seeds have to do with personal fitness?
Remember, personal fitness isn’t just about exercise or counting calories, it’s a whole bunch of little things that, together, add up to a healthy lifestyle. One of these little things could be raising your own vegetables. Now before you panic and start thinking I’ve gone crazy, I’m not talking about quitting your day job and becoming a farmer. I’m just talking about a couple of pots on your balcony, or 10 sq. ft in your back yard. It takes very little effort to grow a small amount of vegetables and the result is usually better tasting and healthier than anything you can find in the supermarket.
What are the benefits?
Well, besides getting some really tasty veggies? Ok, there are a few other benefits. First of all, growing your own veggies can be a physical activity. Gardening in general is an excellent way to stay active and get out of the house a bit. Even if all you’re gardening is a couple of pots of cucumbers, it’s still better than sitting in front of the TV. Second, growing your own veggies generally leads to eating your own veggies and that right there is a good thing. As I said, the veggies we grow ourselves tend to be tastier than anything you buy. Whether that’s because they’re actually better quality or maybe it’s all in our heads and we’re just proud to be eating something we grew ourselves. Either way, I’ve seen people who would never eat a salad tell me how incredible the tomatoes they grew in their backyard tasted.
So what do I need to do?
Well, decide how much effort, time and space you have. For example, we have a small balcony in our apartment, so I can’t really start growing a cherry orchard. However, I do have room for two pots, which I think I’ll use for tomatos and maybe some peppers. Figure out how much sun and water the area you’re going to use gets on daily basis. Sun is the one variable which will often determine what plants grow.
Now, based on all this, decide what you’re going to grow. There are quite a few choices, tomatoes, cucumbers, squashes, onions, garlic, herbs and a whole array of plants are waiting for you to take care of them.
Do I need to buy anything?
Depends. If you have the land already then all you need is seeds. Those are cheap and you might even be able to get them from other people who are already doing this. For balcony gardeners like myself, you’re going to need some pots and soil to put in them. Your local garbage processing plant might be a good place to go for soil. They usually offer free compost for anyone who wants to come by and take some, and this soil is often times excellent for growing plants. For the most part, gardening is cheap hobby, and you won’t be spending too much money. In fact, when you consider the fact that you’re about to get some free veggies, you can usually come out well ahead financially.
How much effort will there be?
Depends on the plants you pick. Some plants require a lot of time and effort while others don’t. Expect to spend about 10 minutes a day on this project, assuming you’re not planting a huge amount of land.
How many vegetables do I get?
Quite a few actually. I was surprised to see how many tomatoes a small pot can produce. The plants keep producing for weeks and you can usually get ten to twenty meals worth of veggies from one plant.
Summary
So while the weather is getting cold, you can start thinking about the plants you’re going to grow when it’s warm. Start now, especially if you’re new at this, it’s going to take you a while to figure out what you want to grow and what you need to get. It’ll be worth it the first time you bite into something fresh you grew yourself.
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2 Responses to “Vegetable Seeds”
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re: home-grown veggies being tastier
I definitely believe that this is because they are higher-quality. Veggies you grew in your own garden haven’t had tons of chemicals dumped on them, been filled with preservatives and shipped hundreds of miles, and they’re basically the freshest veggies you could possibly get.
My guinea pig has an established preference for fresh food, and she goes absolutely nuts over dandelion greens from the backyard while her reaction to store-bought veggies is lukewarm at best. Coincidence?
I have a small garden and not the greatest track record for veggie growing. However, I’ve put in silverbeet, lettuce, tomatoes and am trying out some sugar snap peas.
The silverbeet in particular has been brilliant. I’ve picked the small leaves for salads and the larger leaves for dinners. My tomatoes are just fruiting, so I’ll see how they go.
I do this because I love the super-fresh flavour you get from home-grown stuff. There’s nothing like vegetables that have just been a few minutes before eating. Plus they’re nutritionally better - higher in antioxidants and some vitamins.