by Dr. Teri Jaklin, ND
This is the time of year I get really excited. Sitting outside I see Mother Nature exploding around me – and my garden is calling my name! Did you know that plants provided us with our first medicines and are still – although grossly altered – the basis of many pharmaceuticals? Health and healing starts with knowing where and how your food is grown. The gentle, yet profoundly powerful healing properties of herbs and veggies makes your garden your most precious (and most delicious) medicine chest.
Don’t have the time or space for a garden? Great news – all you need is a pot, shoebox or even an old rubber boot! Container gardening is all the rage and lets you enjoy the low maintenance benefits of home grown food. House, apartment, condo, no home is too small for a container of almost any food or herb. I’m a big fan of growing your own – even if it’s just one thing.
Here are six great tips to get you growing your own produce:
- Most veggies grown in containers do best in full sun (6 hours per day) – put the pots on a cart if you want to move them around to different locations.
- Including more than one herb in a container makes for easy access – as well as being a beautiful addition to the patio.
- Mix herbs and veggies with the flowers in your flower gardens!
- In a container, use a good soil and fertilize! Ask for chemical free options (like manure tea) at the garden centre.
- Don’t forget to water – factors like the size and how porous the container is will determine how much watering is required.
Never done this before? – don’t worry, just follow the directions for depth and spacing on the seed packet and you won’t go wrong with planting.
What should you plant? Here are some easy plants to start in pots:
- Parsley
- Sage
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Chive
- Oregano (spreads like a weed)
- Mint (spreads like a weed)
- Cucumber (have something for it to climb)
- Tomato
- Greens (any kind!)
If you have a flower bed plant some small patches of beets or kale. Been thinking about starting a mini garden? Go for it! You won’t be disappointed. Share you stories with us on our Facebook page, we’d love to hear them!
