With everyone staying home, now is a great time to get creative in the garden. Try your hand at planting a Victory Garden. This retro term is making the rounds again after more than 80 years.

WHAT IS A VICTORY GARDEN?

Victory Gardens were started during World War II when there was a shortage of fresh food. Neighbors banded together to plant seeds and tend the gardens. More than 40% of fresh food in the United States came from Victory Gardens.

WHY SHOULD I GROW A VICTORY GARDEN?

Growing your own fruits, vegetables, herbs and berries has a number of benefits. From reducing your carbon footprint, controlling your own food source, saving money on groceries to having healthy options at your fingertips are just a few.

HOW TO GET STARTED?

Start with a plan. You will need a plot of land, container, or a raised bed to use as a garden. Then decide what you’ll plant. Use what you already eat as a starting point, and build from there. Just remember everything you grow will automatically taste better than what you buy from the store ;).

Use your garden as a way to experiment with new recipes, and try foods you normally never would eat. Gardening is a great family activity that even the youngest gardeners can have fun with. Kids who garden will often eat foods they otherwise wouldn’t try.

Once you have your food list, decide whether you’re going to plant seeds or plants. For seeds, follow the seed packet guidelines for planting and harvesting.

Water and sun are the keys to a successful garden. Make sure yours gets sufficient water (roughly one inch per week). And that the area gets at least 6 hours of sun a day.

Maintain your garden by clearing weeds, and taking care of any pests to give you the best crops.

To learn more about planting a Vegetable Garden read our blog Vegetable Gardening 101 and Planting Companion Guide.

Start a new family project and plan your Victory Garden this year.

For more information on growing a Victory Garden, visit any English Gardens location and talk with an expert.

PLANTING SEEDS

There are many seeds, like lettuce, carrots, radishes, and sunflowers, that can be planted directly into the ground once the danger of frost is gone (usually around May 15) and will germinate quickly.  With a little fertilizer, water and weeding to keep the competition away, the seeds will produce edible crops or beautiful flowers that stretch toward the sky.

Growing plants from seeds is very cost-effective, fun, and a great way to get the children involved in gardening. Plus, it’s very rewarding to watch tiny seedlings blossom into healthy mature plants.

Planting seeds, rather than purchasing transplants from the garden center, is also a great way to grow specific varieties.

Some varieties of seed are easier to grow indoors than others.  Typically, you’ll want to start seeds indoors that have a longer growing season, like tomatoes and peppers.  Some of the easiest to grow are: eggplants, marigolds, peppers, sunflowers and tomatoes.

Read the entire seed packet before you begin.  The packets are filled with useful information, such as: days to germination and harvest, spacing, and planting depth.

To determine when to plant, check the seed packet to see how many weeks before the last frost seeds should be planted.  Count backwards from May 15 (usually the average frost-free date in Michigan.) When you reach the appropriate number of weeks, write yourself a note to start those seeds that week.

Learn more about Planting Your Victory Garden.