Planting With Mom

2023-05-07 -

We celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 14, this year. Does your mom like to work in the garden? You can work on a gardening project together, and your whole family can enjoy the harvest.

Container gardening

Even if you don’t have space in a yard for a garden, you can use containers of any size to grow edible plants (plants we can eat).

Containers can be found at garden centers, or you can use clay pots, plastic garbage cans, bushel baskets or milk cartons. Choose containers that will hold your plants when they’re fully grown.

Get ready to plant

After you find a container, you may need:

• gravel or small rocks

• potting soil

• seeds

• fertilizer

• stakes

• a watering can or garden hose

Container gardening

1. Put 1/2 inch of gravel in the bottom of the container and fill to within 1 inch of the top with potting soil.

2. Decide which types of plants you’ll grow according to the space and light you have. Plant the seeds and use fertilizer according to the directions on the seed packet.

3. Water plants whenever the soil begins to feel dry. It’s best to water early in the morning.

The Mini Page suggests a few plants to get you started.

Carrots

• Sunlight: some shade

• Spacing: at least a 12-inchdeep container; space 4 inches apart

• Harvest: when about 1/2 inch in diameter. (Carrots grow underground.)

• How to use: Carrots are great “takealong” vegetables for lunches or picnics. Dip them in ranch dressing, or steam them.

Tomatoes

• Sunlight: full sunlight

• Spacing: 18 to 24 inches apart; some tomato plants will need cages or stakes so that they can grow upward.

• Harvest: when firm

• How to use: Tomatoes are tasty by themselves, but you can also make spaghetti sauce, salsa and soup with them. They’re great on sandwiches and salads, too.