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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 20, 2009)
OREGON S GAY/LE SBIAN/BI/TRANS NEWSMAGAZINE MARCH 20 2009 SASSY GARDENER by LeAnn Locher <K Get your veggies on! Tips for first-time vegetable gardeners o you want to grow a vegetable create your raised beds with untreated wood, garden for the first time? I’ve and never railroad ties, because whatever been tickled pink to be hearing chemicals are in that wood go into your soil, from so many first timers, in which will go into your edibles...you get the vigorated by a crappy economy, picture. too many food scares, and a resurgence 3. of Get your dirt on. The single best the Victory Garden. And I salute you and thing you can do to be successful in grow welcome you to our ranks. The world is ing your own food is to have good soil. I a better place with more people growing hate to break it to you, but just digging up their own food. In the spirit of helping you the lawn and plunking some seeds in isn’t save money and be as successful as you can, going to yield you the best results. We filled I offer a few tips ’n’ tricks.... our beds with gorgeous soil from Best Buy 1. Plant them where they'll grow in Hillsboro: their selection is excellent, best. Figure out where you’re going to get and you can either pick it up there, or have the most sun. It may be in the front of your it delivered. Their Super Grow soil is my house: veggies in the front, party in the tip to you, and includes compost from Til back? Oh wait, that’s a mullet. But veggies lamook, and you know what’s plentiful in need direct sun for a minimum of 8 hours a Tillamook, right? Hint: mmmmoooooooo. day, and if that’s in the front, that’s where 4. Time it fight. Right now, in mid-to- they should go. Keep it close to the house, late March, the soil is still pretty cold, and in an area in which you’ll enjoy being, and will continue to be until June. Hot weather where it’s protected from winds. vegetables, like tomatoes and peppers, will 2. Build those beds Think about just sit there and shiver if you put them building raised beds: raised soil warms ear out now. While you may be tempted to buy lier and can be easier to tend. Make sure you those tomato starts you see at your grocery S store entrance, don’t. They’re hoping you’ll buy them, they’ll die, and then you’ll buy them again. Tomatoes don’t go into the ground until May or June. If you’re giving seed starting a go, things to be starting by seed outdoors at this time of year are peas and fava beans. If you’re a first-timer, I’d suggest sticking with vegetable starts and a few seeds throughout the season. 5. Figure out your watering pion now. Some work now can provide tasty treats later this year. the same slow way, but only to the specific plants you set it to water. Drip is the most environmentally responsible watering tech nique, and can even be set on a timer system, perfect if you’re busy or planning a vacation. I’ve been using soaker hoses in our beds, and keep telling myself to figure out that drip watering kit I’ve had stashed in the garage for four years. Maybe a long, cool spring,will help motivate me to get that done. If you have the itch to get gardening, a word to the wise: figure out your strategy for summertime watering. Soaker hoses? Drip irrigation? Put some thought into it: it’s not worth it to work so hard getting your vegetable bed going, and then find yourself tied to a hose all July and August. Or worse yet, taking that week-long vacation only to discover upon returning home a heat wave has turned your beautiful edibles to a crispy, L f .A nn L ocher is an avid gardener and dead crunch. Soaker hoses are hoses that Oregon State University Extension Master “weep” water slowly along the ground over Gardener intern. You'llfind her on the Web an extended period of time. They provide at •www.sassygardner.com. She loves to hear deep watering, ensuring roots grow deep from readers. E-mail her at sassygardener@ and strong. Drip irrigation provides water in gmail.com. E verybody ^ G arden C enter Hydroponics . Grow Lights Garden Tools Time to Think Spring! Tomboy Carpentry t Decks! Patios! Fences! r Garden Sheds! Kitchens, baths, floors, tile, paint...and MORE. Tomboy wants to help you realize your outdoor and indoor dream spaces. Green and Eco-friendly. Woman-Owned and Operated. 503.896.7448 i.S. CONTRACTING INC. cyd.miller@yahoo.com CCB# 184740 BUY FACTORY DIRECT 30% OFF INSTALL UNTIL APRIL Pr, 2000 OR VISIT OUR SHOWROOM AT 9I0 W. II ST. #A VANCOUVER, WA Corne y°ur neighborhood nursery www.CornellFarms.com 503-292-9895 8212SW Barnes Rd Portland OR, 97225 • Open Daily 9am - 6pm -4*- SlINKlXYMS • PATIO ROOMS C (DISERBA TORIES • GLASS AWNINGS B JKk. a **-
