Many of us are willing to go the extra mile to improve our home cooking, and not just flavor-wise. Growing your own organic produce can go a long way in ensuring your family stays healthy and protected from toxins.
So, how do you approach this self project if you don’t know where to start?
Below are five simple tips that enabled me to grow healthy food from scratch.
1. Start with Low-Maintenance Vegetables
Your goal is to grow organic food that you can serve to your family with confidence. At this point, you shouldn’t trouble yourself with high-maintenance produce that requires advanced gardening skills or overly specific growing conditions.
Some of the easiest foods you could start growing at home are:
- Cucumbers
- Carrots
- Herbs
- Beans
- Peas
- Peppers
- Lettuce
- Blackberries and raspberries
- Radishes
- Turnips
- Arugula
- Spinach
2. Only Use Organic Soil, Mulch, and Fertilizer
After choosing your favorite fruits and veggies to grow, your journey begins from the ground.
Your soil should be high in organic matter to give the plants the nutrients they need. Here, my top choices are compost, peat moss, and manure.
Don’t underestimate the power of mulching, either, because it helps keep weeds at bay and adds more organic matter to the soil.
Also, did you know you can skip the fertilizer if your soil is already nutrient-rich?
If not, choose an organic fertilizer from your nearest home improvement store or order a prepackaged variety online. Read the instructions on the package carefully before application so you don’t overwhelm your plants.
3. Choose Healthy Seedlings
When shopping for seedlings, make sure they look fresh, green, and free from yellow or wilting leaves.
Look at the roots, too, to ensure they’re white and strong enough to handle transplanting.
You may choose plants that have buds or flowers. But you’ll have to cut these off later to help the plant focus most of its energy on developing new roots.
4. Keep Your Vegetable Garden Free From Weeds
Remove any weeds as soon as they appear, or they’ll compete with your plants over water and nutrients in the soil. Weeds also promote the spread of insects and pests, which can harm your crop and cause plant disease.
So, what’s the simplest way to get rid of weeds?
I like to use a weeding trowel because it effectively pulls out the weeds’ entire root system. This way, you’ll lower the chances of weeds growing back so soon.
5. Inspect Your Vegetable Garden Regularly
Keeping a close eye on the condition of your plants helps them remain healthy and prevents disease.
Always look for the following signs of trouble and act immediately if you notice them to avoid further damage:
- Drooping, yellow, or dead leaves
- Diseased stems
- Plant diseases
- Harmful insects
Most importantly, don’t use pesticides that could introduce chemicals to your food. Instead, place pest-resistant herbs and foul-tasting plants near your vegetables to deter bugs and small animals.
Final Thoughts
I know growing healthy food sounds challenging, but believe me, it pays off.
It simply leaves you with peace of mind—confident that your family has healthy and organic food every day!
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.