Growin’ up for newbies
Artwork by @big_face_
I remember the first time I was able to cook for myself; I must’ve been 10 years old and I made scrambled eggs with a slice of Kraft's American cheese and I was sure it was a masterpiece, I even fed some to my little brother for some proper assurance. My love for food and desire to taste, smell, chew, and sip had been further ignited. The knowledge that I could combine a few ingredients together over a hot flame and nourish myself was unlike any other feeling of pride I had ever had. That pride still remains today. Preparing my own meals is a slow process that gave me the ability to create and converse with myself. It went from scrambled eggs, to ramen noodles, hamburger helper (ya know, mamma’s quick 30 minutes or less type of meals) to my absolute favorite comfort food - chicken tacos, baked frittata, bolognese, and tandoori roasted carrots. The more involved I got into the ensemble of these foods (thank you to my many, many restaurant jobs) the more curious I became about where my food was coming from. I started frequenting our local Eastern farmer’s market here in Detroit - that has everything your hungry heart could desire. Vendors offer up homemade jams, cured meats, organic grains, a variety of plants, vibrant florals and fresh produce from local farms all around Michigan. It is the place to be on a Saturday morning!
Nothing is more heartwarming than watching the exchange of food, whether it be from grower to consumer, server to restaurant guest, or auntie to baby cousin. It is an act of love & support that we pass on from one generation to the next. Experiencing this more direct exchange from these farmers inspired me to want to grow my own food. I don’t know the first thing about growing my own food but I have some houseplants I’ve managed to keep alive thus far, so it can't be that difficult… right?
So I’ve decided to do some research, specifically for those of us who live in a busy city, with a busy schedule, tight budget, and not a lot of growing space. With extensive research I’ve decided that growing my own food on my front porch in containers would be the most efficient and cost effective method. Here’s some helpful information I've gathered so far to help us newbies get started on cultivating our own fresh foods.
What you need to know before starting a container garden:
Understanding your USDA Zone
Also known as your plant hardiness zones; this is a useful system that divides North America into 11 zones by minimum average annual temperature. The lower the number the lower the temperature. These temperatures can help the grower determine what plants will thrive in specific locations. For us local Detroiters, we are in Zone 6 where we typically experience cooler temperatures and planting and growing can begin for some foods as early as mid March.
Know your Spring and Fall Frost Date
Frost dates are when the temperature in your environment drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s important to know when these dates are to avoid damaging any leaves and young tender plants. Resources like ufseeds.com have a ton of guides and tips to help you determine your grow zone, first & last frost date, appropriate estimates on when to sow or transplant your seeds, companion planting guides, and so much more.
Set some goals
Gardening can become time consuming so a good way to stay on track and organized would be to set some goals. What is that you would like to get from this experience? Are you hoping to eventually have a large garden with raised beds and your own compost process? Are you hoping to harvest enough food for your home or maybe enough to share or sell to members in your community?
Prepare yourself for some setbacks.
We all know what a new hobby brings... those sweet, sweet beautiful errors that we *love* to make because we know we will learn from them the first time. Be patient with yourself, your plants and don’t be afraid to do some heavy research or ask for help before making any unsure movements. Time & money will come and go. The most important thing is that you enjoy the process, learn, and connect along the way!
What foods will you grow?
Consider your USDA Zone, your first and last frost dates, sun exposure, and your budget. For first time gardeners, maybe start planting a few foods that you know you’ll enjoy preparing often for meals and maybe one or two new plants that you are curious about. Every plant grows uniquely and has different needs. There are a ton of youtube videos and podcasts that go into great detail on how to care for and get the most out of specific fruits and vegetables. It also may be a smart idea to choose produce that are typically more expensive to purchase at grocery stores, like red peppers, juicy tomatoes, & cucumbers. Plants like potatoes, carrots, leafy greens, and radishes grow wonderfully in containers as well!
What types of containers are best for gardening ?
Plastic is by far the most affordable option. This also gives containers another purpose before being recycled. Be sure to only choose containers that have the recycling numbers 1, 2, 4 & 5. Containers numbered 3, 6,& 7 were processed with harmful toxins that may leak into your soil if exposed to the sun’s heat for prolonged periods of time. Totes (plastic storage bins), 1-8 gallon food grade buckets, yogurt & deli containers would all make great gardens. Plastic with a little give but not too much is in perfect shape to last you more than one growing season. Remember to create a proper drainage system by adding a few holes on the bottom corners of your repurposed containers!
Terracotta is aesthetically pleasing to your flowering and fruiting babies, but it can get expensive and create more work for you in the long run. This material is porous and has a tendency to suck out moisture and nutrients from your plant’s soil which means more watering, especially for those plants that need full sun exposure. If you're going to use terracotta, consider opting for those that are sealed with a glaze and will be able to retain more moisture.
Most wood containers you’ll want to repurpose may be chemically treated which can leak into your soil and taint your harvest. Wood is also porous, enabling mold and wood rot. It might be a good idea to remove any wood from the base of your container and line them with safe plastic bags or fabric root pouches .
Ceramic planters can also get pretty pricey but can retain moisture well. Vintage pots could be coated with a lead-based paint containing asbestos or other harmful toxins. This isn’t likely but consider using these older containers as your cachepot (a decorative exterior piece that holds another planter).
Root pouches/ grow bags are versatile, reusable, they vary in size, shape, fabric, color and price. More importantly, root pouches encourage healthy crops. Their breathable fabric encourages root growth, increases oxygen levels, allowing more nutrients and water to be absorbed resulting in stronger, healthier plants and better yields. This light weight fabric also prevents over-watering and helps maintain cooler temperatures. Overall, I think you’ll get the most out of your money, crops, and time from either plastic containers or fabric root pouches.
What are the best types of soil and fertilizer?
A good soil has lots of nutrients for an optimal harvest. An appropriate recipe for a potting mix would be ½ compost, ¼ peat or coconut coir & ¼ perlite. Check your area for local composting prices and pick up options!
Peat moss is a fibrous material that forms when moss and other natural material decompose without the presence of air. This is a very slow process and is actually not considered a renewable resource. Peat moss is used because it has the ability to hold several times its weight in moisture & nutrients and releases it to the plant's roots. A similar alternative to peat is coco coir, which is a natural fibre extracted from the outer husk of a coconut. Coir can be high in salts, so it's suggested that you wash it before adding it to your soil mixture or opt for a composted coir brand for a more balanced mineral delivery.
You know those little styrofoam looking pebbles on the top of your newly purchased plant? Those little guys are called perlite; a volcanic glass that is heated up to 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit (how hot is that?) and pop like popcorn. This superheated perlite consists of tiny air pockets and when mixed into a potting soil can act as a filtration system for your plants.
Store bought potting mix can be an alternative to mixing your own but may cost you some extra bucks if you want the good stuff. Brands like Kellogg’s are supposedly some of the best organic mixtures out there but I’d do some more research before purchasing the first thing you see! Big box companies tend to not always store things properly and this can affect the quality of organic materials.
Fertilizer contains a few primary nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus & potassium as well as micronutrients like zinc, copper and iron. Organic and synthetic fertilizers provide nutrients in different ways. Organic fertilizers will treat your plants best as the organic materials are not water soluble and release it’s nutrients more slowly into the plant’s roots. Neptune’s Harvest Fish & Seaweed Fertilizer comes highly recommended and is said to increase your yields and even help your fruits and vegetables last longer!
Direct seed sowing vs transplanting
Both methods of growing have their advantages and disadvantages. One pro of planting from seed is that it is a more budget friendly option. Direct sowing could also mean less work in the long run; transplants have to be monitored closely for moisture content and seeds tend to have a better drought tolerance. You also won’t need a greenhouse or proper lighting to start your seeds outdoors but transplants can be started earlier indoors which means earlier harvests.Transplants are offered at nurseries and farmer’s markets to cut down on your waiting time, however, not all transplants are successful. Foods like melon and carrots tend to not transplant well due to delicate stems and roots that can become damaged and distorted in the process. Transplants also have more flexibility; if the weather turns bad you can move your plant indoors and prevent any damage, or delay transplanting until the weather improves.
Keeping out pests
Protective structures are a good thing to have on hand to hide your young plant from hungry critters and to prevent any damage if the temperature happens to drop lower than anticipated. Gardeners have managed to get pretty creative in this department. I’ve spotted repurposed netted laundry hampers, clear plastic totes, umbrellas, and birdhouses. You can purchase a pre-made structure but it might not fit the size of your container just right so I think the best, most affordable move is to create your own or repurpose what you may already have! You can customize your protective structure with chicken wire, bird netting, pvc pipes, metal or wood stakes. It is important to keep a close eye on your plants and be able to identify the first symptoms of a pest problem. Look out for curled or yellow leaves, holes, fast wilting, stunted growth, etc. You may not have much of a pest problem the first or second season because word hasn’t gotten out amongst these animals that you have lots of goodies to offer. Of course we want to share this abundance of food with all of theses creatures but we want to protect them until we get the optimal harvest.
Plants and herbs like basil, lavender, lemongrass, and alliums can be planted near your other container gardens to help keep out insects, rabbits and other animals until you're ready to harvest.
This is truly just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to growing your own plants. But I have to say I’ve really enjoyed digging deep into the unique needs of different plants. I hope you feel inspired to take a chance on welcoming more earthly beings into your life.
I encourage you to reach out with any helpful tips & info you may have learned along the way - leave me some words via email at hello@detroitrose.com.
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