Introduction to Gardening

Part I

Why Folks Garden, and What They Face

by Cecil Blackwell.

Cecil Blackwell is Executive Director of the American Society for Horticultural Science, Mount Vernon, Va. He formerly was Horticultural Editor of The Progressive Farmer magazine, Birmingham, Ala. (1959-65); and Extension Horticulturist at the University of Georgia, Athens (1954-59).

Interest in home gardening is at its highest level since the Victory Garden era of World War II. Victory Gardens were encouraged then to offset the shortages in commercial production, processing, and transportation of vegetables and fruits during the war years.

The current high interest in gardening is attributed to several factors. Among these is the increasing cost of food which has resulted largely from higher energy and labor costs in producing, processing, and transporting food. Even so, Americans can purchase an adequate food supply with a lower percentage of their take-home pay than can the people of virtually all other countries. But at today's prices, it has been estimated that an average family can save $200 to $300 annually on food costs by growing and processing fruits and vegetables at home. Your savings may be greater or less, depending on the size of your family, the size of your garden, and, more importantly, your skills as a gardener.

But other values derived from gardening are perhaps more important than potential savings on food costs. Some of these can be cited as contributing to the current interest in gardening.

Freshness and quality. Produce harvested at peak maturity from the garden generally has better flavor and higher nutritional value than that harvested at earlier stages of maturity and shipped long distances to the supermarket. This peak quality can also be "captured" and preserved in home-canned and frozen produce.

Therapy, or personal satisfaction. Working with living plants and seeing them respond has therapeutic value. Success from learning and using new skills stirs a sense of pride and achievement. The exercise can be relaxing, even recreational.

A family activity. Gardening, and home preserving of fruits and vegetables, can be a learning experience for the entire family including the children. What better way to teach "biology" to your children!

The "back-to-nature" trend. This has been cited as one of the reasons why so many young adults (in the 18 to 25 age group) have developed such a keen interest in gardening and food preservation. The desire for organically-grown or "natural" foods is no doubt related to this trend.

Artistic and esthetic values. The vegetable garden and a "home orchard or vineyard" can be an integral part of the home landscaping, enhancing its variety and color at different seasons of the year.

Dwarf fruit trees can be used as "specimen" plants or trained to grow against a fence or wall. Small fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries can be grown in beds or as border plantings. Even the vegetable garden plots can be arranged to add esthetic value to the home landscape.

Neighborliness. In urban areas, next door neighbors often do not really get acquainted with each other. But when a neighbor also gardens, you will have much in common to talk about, to share, to compare, to brag on, and to swap in terms of information, ideas, plant materials, products, successes and failures. If your space is inadequate for a home garden and you have a plot in a Community Garden, this comradeship can be broadened beyond the immediate neighborhood.

A family garden

Beware of Problems

If you are a beginning gardener, have a go at it with open eyes as well as an open mind. Keep in mind that You may face some frustrations and disappointments.

There will be problems with weeds, insects, plant diseases and disorders, and other pests such as rodents and even pets. No doubt about it.

There may well be problems with drought, rain (too much, too little, or at the wrong time), heat, and cold. The weather doesn't always cooperate.

There may be problems from the hot sun, too much shade, competition from tree roots, flooding, poor drainage, and poor soil conditions.

But take courage. The information given here is designed to help you prevent or overcome these problems.

Finally, the work involved in gardening may be a "problem". Sure, there is therapy in planning, planting, and tending a garden, and in harvesting and processing its products. But the work is demanding at times. It may be physically tiring, even exhausting. But, more importantly, things have to be done at certain times during the growing season for best results. This could interfere at times with things like golfing, fishing, or weekend outings.

If you're "addicted" to camping, fishing, golfing and the like, you'd be wise to limit the size and scope of your garden.

Following are some of the more important keys to gardening success.