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Planting a home garden adds flavour to your table while reducing your grocery bill.
The most nutritious and delicious produce is home-grown. If you aren’t sure what to plant and when to plant it, these tips can help, starting with these 5 home garden staples.
Tomatoes: Tomatoes are the perfect staple for any home garden. You can eat the fruit of the plant raw in the summer months or make it into a sauce and freeze for the winter. If you choose to plant your tomatoes from seeds, start indoors in early April. You can transplant your starters or store-bought transplants in late April to mid-May. Be sure to give them plenty of sunlight and water.
Cucumbers: These are great warm weather plants, and they can grow in any amount of space because, like tomatoes, they can climb. Cucumbers grow in soil that is at least 65°F, so plant them no earlier than mid- to late April based on your region.
Zucchini: This is a perfect mid-summer vegetable that’s great for grilling. This squash variety likes warm soil, so plant in early to mid-summer for best results. You can plant the seeds directly into the ground at one inch deep and two to three feet apart, making it an easy planting project.
Bell Peppers: This sweet variety of pepper makes for a great staple in any home garden due to its strong resistance to pests. Bell peppers love warm soil (above 70°F). It is best to start seeds indoors in early spring and plant seedlings outside in late spring to early summer, as they are very sensitive to cold weather.
Basil: This herb makes a perfect addition to any summer pasta, pizza or tomato dish and is great for making pesto and salad dressings. Basil is a low-maintenance plant that can be grown in the ground or in a pot. Plant basil in late April and make sure it gets plenty of sunlight.
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Editorial Review: Andrea Cohen, Editorial Director, Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Contact Editor
