Grow, Harvest, Enjoy: Your Guide to a Bountiful Summer Garden

Plant, Grow & Enjoy Your Own Food All Summer Long

Growing your own food has never been more popular. You’ll save money, eat better, and stay active outdoors through the summer. Choose garden seeds and bulbs for food that you like to eat, and make sure you’ve got the right garden tools, soil and fertilizer to get your planting off to good start. A backyard greenhouse can let you start the season early when the weather’s still a bit too cool for outdoor planting. Remember that some crops will require plant supports. Tomatoes, for example, need tomato cages to prosper. You can also augment your main vegetable garden with some strategically placed planter pots and raised bed gardens around your yard. Once you’ve got everything in the ground, a good watering routine or irrigation system is essential to maintain healthy growth, while mulching will help protect against pests, weeds and sun damage. 

Come harvest time you might benefit from some specific tools like a harvest knife or berry picker. You’ll have plenty of fresh veggies to throw on the grill, so make sure your BBQ is up to the task. Nothing beats eating al fresco on your own homegrown bounty. Consider sprucing up your outdoor décor with a new dining set and dinnerware, and add some patio lights for evening meals. What you can't eat right away, you can always preserve! Canning and dehydrating are tried and true methods, or you can simply seal and store your produce in the freezer.