When my children were young, I wanted to teach them healthy eating habits, with the main goal of encouraging them to learn how to plant and grow fresh food and, in the process, reap the excellent benefits for their cognitive abilities.
Together, we built a fourteen-foot by fourteen-foot raised garden in the far west corner of our fenced-in backyard. At that time, I was married to a professional landscaper, and we decided to use transplants/starters we bought at a contractor rate from the nursery he did a lot of business with, instead of starting seeds indoors.
Had we begun with seeds indoors, we would have had them started at least six to eight weeks before planting. In Southeast Michigan, where we live, planting usually starts around Mother’s Day (mid-May) or Memorial Day weekend (end of May).
Once the “fruits of our labor” began to sprout, I enjoyed watching my youngest snack while he was playing outside. He loved to eat at his own leisure by going to the garden, grabbing cherry tomatoes and green onions, and eating them while sitting in his treehouse, attached to the top of his swing set.
We grew the following vegetables and herbs:
- Lettuce
- Cucumbers
- Zucchini
- Carrots
- Peas
- Green onions
- Oregano
- Basil
- Cilantro
- Roma tomatoes
- Cherry tomatoes
During the summer, as our garden began to bloom, we noticed that our Labrador/Pitbull mixed dog, named Phoebe, also enjoyed the garden because she kept stealing our tomatoes before they were ripe and red. I guess she preferred the green tomatoes! Phoebe would also dig up our carrots and eat them whole – dirt and all.
One afternoon, we realized that Phoebe was not only eating the carrots but also digging up that area of the garden. Although what I am about to say may sound like a fictional story, I assure you it is not.
When attempting to fix the area Phoebe dug up, we realized what our beloved K9 was trying to tell us. She found that a mama rabbit had made a nest with her babies in our carrots – oh, the irony! Ha, ha, silly Phoebe.
Besides eating and cooking healthy, healing was going on the inside of my children, and they didn’t even see it coming! Yes, I am a very, very sneaky mama! Gardening, or horticultural therapy as it is technically known, has been shown to improve memory, cognitive abilities, task initiation, language skills, and socialization. In a physical sense, horticultural therapy helps strengthen muscles, improve coordination, balance, and endurance.
*Note: All content within this article is meant for informational purposes only and is in no way a replacement for professional contractor advice or support. Seek immediate and appropriate care from a professional when necessary.
Can you grow seeds on a windowsill?
Apparently, no. The windowsill is not a good spot to grow seeds, as it gets cold once the sun sets. Grateful I asked because that is exactly what my plan was! Thankfully, I have a plant stand under my window, so I will move the seedlings from the windowsill at night, after the sun goes down, next to my other house plants.
Let’s see what the experts have to say about growing seeds indoors. According to the Canadian Wildlife Federation:
- “Starter Mix. You can grow your seeds in earth, potting soil or compost but many prefer a seed starter mix which has been sterilized to prevent diseases from killing off tender young plants.
- Containers. You will also need containers to put them in. You can use compostable cups or reuse small pots that plants often come in. You don’t want the pot too large as it could become overly wet, with no root system to absorb the water. If the pot is very small and you have a long way to go before transplanting outside, be prepared that you may need to repot the plants during this indoor phase, to give roots plenty of room to grow.
- Stand With Lights. Many people use windowsills to grow their plants but if you have the budget and space, you could consider buying a stand with grow lights.
- A mist sprayer can be invaluable for watering if you have tiny seeds, as water can move them about until they have grown a root.
- A sheet of plastic may come in handy, to conserve moisture while the seeds are germinating. This can be as simple as reusing a bag that can be cut in half, like what some fresh produce comes in.
- Keeping Track. Last but not least, you will need a system to identify which pots are growing which plants, as it’s easy to lose track! This could be popsicle sticks to go in the pot or labels to attach to the outside of pots,”.
Okay, maybe I can work with my windowsill after all as long as I make sure the space stays warm enough. Actually, I just remembered that I have a warming light leftover from when my oldest son had his turtles. Perfect, I cannot wait to get started!
What side of the house is best for a vegetable garden?
Once my plants are ready to be put in the ground, I need to figure out where in my yard I will create my vegetable garden. I no longer have that raised garden bed in my backyard, as it was not a good spot once our trees grew larger, and it became very shaded.
I do have a spot in mind that gets a lot of sun and is beside a privacy fence, where I could potentially let the vegetables with vines grow up. It faces mostly west – slightly southwest. First, I will check to see where the best spot is from those who know better than I.
Oregon State University reports that, “The best place to site your vegetable garden would be where it gets the most sun and has the best soil. A southern exposure is ideal, especially if the ground slopes away from the garden so the heavier cold air flows away from it. That gives the garden it’s longest season with best light and soil. All vegetables need a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight.
Sun-loving plants like tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, as well as green beans, squash and melons need more. Lettuces and some members of the cabbage family can do with a little less,”.
When to start seeds indoors for spring planting
In conclusion, with the right timing, tools, and sunny location, growing your own food from seed is a rewarding journey worth every bit of preparation involved.