Magenta Flower Bouquet

Although we live in an age of ultra pasteurization and safety guards for commercial food, more and more people are growing at least some of their own food. Not only is safety a matter of concern, but the quality and flavor of homegrown food is so far superior to that available in large grocery stores, that the kitchen garden is coming back in style.

Planting your own kitchen garden can be done in a snap using some simple little methods.

Edible Art: Take advantage of current garden space to plant food rather than decorative plants. Intermingle leaf lettuce with flowers for a lovely splash of vibrant green and red. Let vines of cucumbers, melons or squash climb a fence. And plant tomatoes and peppers in pots on patio. Herbs near your kitchen can serve as a handy help.

Plant by the Foot: Take advantage of succession planting when you plant a 12" row of lettuce, a 12" row of radishes, a 12" row of bunching onions, and a 12" row of carrots each week during the appropriate planting times. Save time by "sowing your seed" on homemade seed tape once at kitchen table and then just cutting the needed amount for your garden each week.

Food Swapping: Maybe you have an excellent space for cool crops like lettuce, bok choy, radishes and chard, but can't grow a tomato worth eating! Why not swap with a friend or neighbor. Let her grow the great tomatoes and peppers and then just trade as the crops are harvested! Both of you will be delighted!

Start Small: Even if you've never grown a single bite of your own food, you can be successful by starting small and taking very good care of your little garden patch. Start with easy to grow vegetables like radishes, lettuce, tomatoes and peppers. As you grow in experience, add a little more variety and space to your efforts. Soon you will have a lovely kitchen garden that not only delights you palette, but serves as a wonderful way to relieve stress and assure good quality and safe food in your kitchen.

Susan Gregory is an active gardener and love to find ways to raise her own food and share with her friends and neighbors. Learn more about her easy gardening tips at