Low and behold my beginners guide to gardening … yes even this late in the season.
Do you want “in” on pandemic gardening mania but worry that it might be too late? Or, maybe you planted something edible back in the spring and the plants succumbed to weather or wildlife. Do not fear, below are tips to grow some gardener’s favourites before the summer is over.
Getting Started
What you will need to get started:
1) Place to grow (aka garden or container)
2) Soil (aka potting mix and fertilizer/compost)
3) Light (hopefully just the sun or an inexpensive grow light)
4) Plant, Cutting, or Seeds
5) Water
What To Grow
The first thing you must decide is what you want to grow. For the purpose of this article, we will discuss growing tomatoes and basil. Tomato and basil are delicious, versatile, pair well together, and also happen to be two of the easiest plants to propagate.
Something to keep in mind: any plant where you eat the actual plant directly (lettuce, herbs, kale) will be ready to harvest sooner than a plant where you must first grow the plant and then wait for the “fruit” to mature (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers).
Step One
The first step is to decide what to grow and where to grow it. Planting in pots is a great way to start off your food growing journey. They work well for all spaces and it is easy to control what goes in them. Container gardening allows you to move your plant around to maximize sunlight and to bring the plant indoors to extend your growing season.
Important: in order to start growing tomatoes this “late” (if you are in a moderate climate) in the season, start with a plant/seedling because it takes a few months to start a plant from seed.
Getting The Plants
If you are having trouble finding tomato plants/seedlings in garden nurseries in mid-summer, keep in mind that many gardeners purchase too many plants and are willing to rehome their bounty. Start by asking a friend or neighbour who you think may garden. You could also try putting a post on your social media asking if any of your friends have any plants they are willing to rehome. Gardeners love to share!
Important: There are many different types of tomatoes. Plant varieties are something to be aware of when selecting a tomato. Varieties vary greatly in both the size of the plant and the size of the fruit they bear. Tomato sizes range between the “Tiny Tim” variety that is easily grown in small spaces all the way to the indeterminate varieties that can grow upwards of 7 feet.
The smaller the tomato fruit (cherry or grape-sized tomatoes), the less time it will take for the fruit to grow and ripen. However, if you end up with a larger type of tomato and there is a threat of frost later on in the season (frost dates vary based on location) you can always pick the tomatoes green and bring the fruit indoors to ripen.
For more information about Tiny Tim tomatoes, click
here.
Cloning
If you are unable to find a tomato plant to purchase (or adopt) DO NOT FEAR. Tomatoes are easy to clone! Cloning is actually much easier than starting them from seed!
Cloning is simple as taking a cutting off a tomato plant, putting it in soil, and keeping it moist. Click here to see just how simple it is!
Most gardeners prune their tomato plants and have an ample supply of “clippings” to clone. Also, your gardening friends probably have a small container and a few cups of potting soil to get your clone started.
Cloning basil is done in a similar fashion. Click here for more info specific to cloning basil.
Choosing A Container
When it comes to selecting a pot or container, feel free to think outside the box! If you don’t want to purchase many things to start your gardening journey, many things can be upcycled as pots or planters. Old plastic storage totes work well. If you go that route just be sure to drill a few holes in the bottom so excess water can drain. Plants will die if their roots are left in soggy soil.
Be sure the container you choose is 10-gallons or larger (unless you know for sure that you are growing a “Tiny Tim”). Feel free to put the basil in the same container as the tomato. If you decide that you only want to bring the basil inside to overwinter, you can always clone a bit of your own basil in a few months and grow that indoors over the cooler months.
Soil and Fertilizer
Potting soil is the only thing I recommend you actually purchase. Potting soil is different from topsoil and won’t compact in the container. Bagged potting soil is popular and can be easily found at a hardware stores, nurseries, and sometimes even grocery stores.
Tomatoes are “hungry” plants and require some sort of fertilizer/soil amendment to thrive. If you are only growing one tomato plant I suggest that you ask a friend for 1/2 cup of fertilizer. It doesn’t seem worth buying a bag of tomato fertilizer for one plant.
If you are comfortable using chemical fertilizers, Miracle Grow sells potting soil that already has fertilizer in it. If you are growing a few plants and want to only add organic amendments, I would recommend buying a bag of organic compost alongside your potting soil. When filling your growing container, add 25% compost and 75% potting soil. Top dress with a little bit every two weeks for the rest of the growing seasons.
Growing your own food, even if it is a teeny tiny amount, is great for the planet, nutrition, and your mental health. For more simple and accessible health tips, click here.
Happy Growing!
