So, you want to be a farmer?

For those afraid of the garden because of their broken green thumb, or their complete lack of interest in researching almanacs and seasonal charts, it’s really not that difficult, and a lot less involved than you probably imagine. Unless you’re on the verge of starting a massive, industrialized farming operation, you do not need to be a botanist or even have that much experience to raise a healthy and fun summer garden on your own. We’ll give you a quick rundown of what you’ll need and profile 4 crops that are easy to keep growing! Check out our Gardening 101 for more tips.

What you’ll need:

Land

Where do you want your garden to live? If you have enough land, find a good patch and mark it off with some wooden stakes and ribbon. Choose the right location where your summer crop will thrive; avoid direct sunlight, as this will likely burn your crops to death. Occasional shade and air movement/breezes will help you decide on your perfect patch. [Pro Tip: Check out hay bale gardening and how you can create organized, visually appealing and fruitful gardens for extremely low costs!]

Tools

Before you go searching for magic seeds, you need to be prepared with the right gear. You can find great deals online for the trinity of garden hand tools: a hand trowel, a transplanter and a hand rake. These are really the only tools you’ll need. A watering can may be necessary if you do not have access to an outside hose. Fertilizer is up to you. If you’re looking for a natural approach to growing/fertilizing your crop, consider finding space to keep a compost bin.

Veg

You can start from seed, but that requires more time and patience. Here, we’ll assume you went to your local nursery and bought up baby plants for tomatoes, cucumbers, pepper and basil. You’ve also created small trenches in your garden where the crops will live. This will be a small, simple guide to each seedling and how you should plant and care for them:

Tomatoes:

• Plant seedlings (baby plants) 1.5 – 2 feet apart
• 6 – 8 hours of sunlight per day
• You will eventually need to cage each plant as they grow
• Tomatoes should be ripe for harvest 50 – 60 days since planting (early-season, longer if started later in the season.

Cucumbers:

• Plant seedlings 3 – 4 feet apart
• 5 hours of full sunlight per day
• Feed 1 inch of water per day
• Harvest cucumbers when they reach 6 – 8 inches in length, usually after around 50 – 70 days

Peppers:

• Plant seedlings 1.5 – 2 feet apart
• 6 – 8 hours of light per day
• Harvest when peppers are the size and color you want, usually after 60 – 90 days

Basil:

• Not a vegetable, but an awesome, versatile herb!
• Grow in pots or inground
• 6 – 8 hours of sunlight per day
• Space about 1 – 1.5 feet apart if inground
• Regularly harvest leaves to promote growth (this means LESS or NO fertilizing needed!)

A tasty payoff

How cool is it to grow these yummy (& healthy!) treats all on your own?! All it takes is time, some patience and a little dirt, and you’ll be on your way to sustainable snacking. If you find yourself becoming some bug’s meal while you’re working in your garden, use your Bug Bite Thing quickly to get rid of the itchiness instantly!

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