How to Nurture a Productive Garden: A Hillbilly's Gardening Guide

Some people in the world believe that planting a garden is relatively easy. These people will choose a small plot and plant their seeds. Then, with very little care, they hope for the best. Sometimes, these types of gardens produce well. Most often, though, they fail. There is much more to gardening than most people assume. If they want to have a good crop, it is really a lot of hard work. My grandmother always seemed to have the most productive vegetable gardens. People in her town would say she had "a green thumb." I began learning her secrets from an early age. It is always a good idea to know more than one way to plant and care for a garden.

First, I take into account the fact that nutrients may not be abundant in the soil. I take the time to gather the ingredients I use for compost. Many overlook this step, but it is very important. During the autumn months while raking the yard I bag the leaves. Then, I set these bags aside in the shed or behind the house. During the winter months, I begin saving all the used coffee grounds. Depending on the size of the garden, I may start this in autumn. I allow the grounds to dry out completely, not allowing them to mildew. When they are dry, I put them into a large can that I have set aside, just for this purpose. During the late winter, I begin dumping table scraps into a safe spot in the back yard. Usually, I use the previous year's garden spot. I allow these scraps to decompose, stirring them each day.

The second step is to choose this year's garden site. I do this just before winter ends and before spring begins. It should not be the in same location every year. This would exhaust all nutrients in the soil. Areas should be rotated. The earth must have a period of rest. Therefore, the new site must be one that has not been used in a minimum of two years. It should be a place, if possible, away from the house and foot-traffic. It must also be where rain will not wash away the topsoil easily. Once I have chosen my new spot, I mark it temporarily with rocks and string. With any luck, this will keep others out of the area.

The next step is preparing the garden spot. Clearing out the area, of course, should be the first part of preparation. I want to make sure I have a "clean slate" with which to work. Using a small hand spade, I dig up all the weeds in the area, making sure to dig up the entire root. This is a bit harder than using a tiller, but it ensures the weeds do not grow back as quickly. Digging the weeds in this way also leaves the dirt loose, which makes the next part easier. After I have made sure all the weeds are gone, I clear out any rocks and sticks, by hand. Using my shovel, I break up the earth in the entire area. I make sure to dig down at least six inches deep. Afterwards, I crumble up all the larger clumps, using a garden hoe. I like to make sure the dirt is fine. This aerates the ground much better. It also ensures water gets further down.

After the ground is properly prepared, I "feed" the ground. First, using my shovel, I spread all the rotten scraps over the freshly dug dirt. I spread it evenly and as thick as I can. Then, I turn the earth with the shovel. This fully mixes the scraps in with the dirt. After this, I sprinkle the coffee grounds all over the area. Using the hoe, I lightly mix these into the ground. Then, I water the ground well, ensuring the dirt is wet but not soaked.

At this point, I decide what I want to plant in my garden. First, I figure out what will grow well in my area. I must take into account what the weather is like during the spring and summer. Since we get a lot of rain during the spring and very little in the summer, I choose ones I know are hardy plants: tomatoes, green beans, cabbage, and broccoli. Cucumbers die too easily in my area so they would not be good in my garden. My grandmother lived in Arkansas where rain was abundant. The soil was richer there. Practically anything grows and produces well in her garden. I also must keep in mind that the soil in my area is low nutrient soil, which is why I must "feed" the ground well. Now that I know what I will plant, I buy my seeds.

The next step is marking the rows. I figure out how many of each plant I will grow. This tells me how long my rows must be. Then I decide which plants grow best beside each other. This tells me how far apart my rows must be and where exactly I will plant each group. I remove the rocks and string I originally used to mark my spot. Then, using my garden hoe, I make the rows.

Next, of course, I actually plant the garden. My grandmother always chose Good Friday, even if there was still ice on the ground. "That blesses the ground," she would say. Now that I know where each plant will be, I go down each row making a hole. I use my garden awl to do this. It helps me to know how deep to make the hole: half the length of the awl. Once I make the holes, I go back and drop one seed into each hole and cover it up with the dirt. Once I have all the seeds planted, I water the ground well again. Then, I cover the entire area with the decomposed leaves.

The garden still must be tended after all the work put into planting it. I spend every afternoon in my garden. I check for new sprouts, pull any new weeds, and water regularly. The garden still needs a little help most of the time. My grandmother used Miracle-Grow to help her plants grow better. This is where my grandmother's procedures and mine differ. I like to mix a special "brew" for my plants. I keep a six-pack of beer in my cabinet. I do not use it for drinking, though. I open a can. Then I set it on the cabinet overnight, so it goes flat. The next morning, I pour this beer into an empty gallon milk jug. Next, I pour in two tablespoons of ammonia, and the same amount of Joy dishwashing detergent. Afterward, I fill the jug the rest of the way with water, mixing it well. This is what I water my plants with every two weeks.

There is a lot involved in planting and gardening is very hard work. Even more work is involved in tending the garden. It is well worth the effort put in. Nothing can compare to eating food that you have grown on your own, and worked hard to attain.