6 Tips for Starting Your Summer Garden

We all have heard the expression “April showers bring May flowers” but they also bring a plethora of spring vegetables and fruit. There is something so rewarding when you are able to create your own garden and reap the healthy benefits of the tended crops. With the final frosts in the distant future, setting up your summer garden can be a breeze with a couple of easy tips and tricks.

Start sowing your seeds in April: The ground has to be warm for seeds to be planted so it’s best to wait till the last frost of the season. Usually I head out and start sowing my seeds at the end of April but you can use this plant hardiness zone map to know exactly when you should start. Find the zone you live in to learn which plants will thrive in your location.

Have a plan in action: Before I start to even plant my seeds and crop, I will always have an idea of how many different varieties of fruits and vegetables I want to grow for the season. Usually less is more if you are a beginner but if you are green thumb savvy then let your imagination run wild. A great tip is to plant herbs so you get a feel for the soil, the amount of water required, and the amount of sun needed. I love planting chives, dill, parsley, and coriander in April.

Try something new: Planting the same fruits and vegetables can be very rewarding but why not try growing something you’ve never heard of? You will not only learn a ton about how the crop grows, but you will also find a laundry list of new ways to use your new ingredient in recipes that you can create from scratch! Maybe try some Chicory, Jerusalem artichokes or Pak Choi for a delicious summer vegetable.

Go Organic: These days we all should be concerned with the toxic chemicals that are sprayed on our food. So why not grow an all-organic garden? There are so many sites that can give you sound advice as to going organic or better yet, talk to a local organic farmer for his or her growing tips. They might even show you a trick or two as to how to keep your garden in tip-top shape. Then once you grow that garden, maybe bring a fresh summer salad with your bounty as a thank you.

Compost the most: I love juicing every morning so I always try to save my compost for cooking during the week but in the summer, I take the compost and add it to my garden. Not only does it retain a beautiful tasting crop, it helps the soil to bind together and adds a ton of nutrients to your soil. If you do not have a juicer, there are lots of composters on the market for a reasonable price.

Create an original cookbook: Since you are now the Goddess of your garden, how about creating a delectable cookbook with all of the fruits and veggies you’ve been tending to all spring? There are so many types of salads, soups, entrées, and even desserts you can scratch create from your garden so have some fun and don’t forget to post your photos to the Kenmore Instagram page!

MORE PLANTING & GARDENING TIPS FROM KENMORE BLOG:

• Composting and Gardening Tips
• How to Make a DIY Terrarium
• 10 Foods You Didn’t Know You Could Cook on the Grill