Self-Suffiency Through Home Gardening: Part One

During World War I and World War II, farmers were called on to grow crops essential to feeding our troops such as potatoes, corn, wheat and cattle feed. Each person was allotted a specific amount of food, gas, heating oil, shoes, etc., to be sure our troops had what they needed. As a result of this rationing, vegetables were harder to come by.

To be sure their families had enough food to eat, people grew their own vegetables and called it their Victory Garden.

It seems that things are again getting to the place where we are growing our own vegetables. By doing this, we ensure that we have control of our food supply, we know what we are feeding our families, we experience the satisfaction of having a full pantry and the food security that it brings, and we save money; especially considering how much food costs these days.

There are some helpful things you should know before you start your garden: (1) Learn your climate zone. Phillips County ranges from Zone 2 up by the Canadian border to Zone 3 in the rest of the county. Where I live, on the prairie, the growing conditions are complicated by the wind which can destroy a plant and dry out the soil in a few hours. Malta's average last frost date is May 14th and the average first frost date is Sept. 24th. That gives us, on average, 133 days of growing season. (2) You should know your soil's makeup. The ideal soil is loam with plenty of organic matter. Your soil may have more sand or clay. Sandy soil will let water drain through too fast for it to be of value to your plants. Clay soil will seal up and not let water drain through at all. It's also helpful to know the pH of your soil although here it's most likely to be alkaline. You can purchase a soil test kit at the hardware store or send a sample to the Montana Extension Service for more extensive testing. The County Extension Agent will help you with this process. However, all land that was under the inland seaway of millions of years ago will be alkaline because of the salt that was left in the soil after the water receded. If you live east of the Mississippi River or in the Pacific Northwest, your soil will be high in acid. Beware of gardening experts who tell you to add lime to your soil. Absolutely don't do this! These people live in acid soil areas and are trying to raise the pH of their soil to be more alkaline. Ours is already high and lime will ruin your soil. Ideal soil will be deep, friable, well-drained and high in organic matter. (3) You should learn the difference between cool weather and warm weather crops. Vegetables that like to be planted when the soil is 50 degrees include beets, broccoli (started), cabbage (started), carrots, cauliflower (started), celery (started), parsley, peas, potatoes (from seed potatoes), radishes, spinach and turnips. Vegetables that like to be planted when the soil is 65 degrees include beans, chard, corn, cucumber (started or from seed), eggplant (started), melons (started or from seed), onion sets, peppers (started), squash (started or from seed) and tomatoes (started). To determine the temperature of your soil, use an inexpensive stick thermometer and insert it into the soil. Wait awhile to be sure your reading is accurate, then plant accordingly.

There are a few things to consider when choosing the best site for your garden. Avoid planting too near trees and shrubs since they will use most of the water you so carefully apply. Big plants are water bullies and small vegetable plants don't stand a chance. Keep it close enough to the house so you remember to take care of it. Avoid the spot where you have trouble growing even grass or weeds. If it won't grow grass, it won't grow vegetables. Make it easy to access with a vehicle if possible. There will be times you want to bring in soil supplements in bulk and shoveling out of a pickup is easier than using a wheelbarrow. Have a source of water close by. If you are pulling a hose from the other side of the house, you are causing extra work and frustration for yourself. Keep your garden flat or on a slight slope. If your slope is too steep it will lead to erosion problems. Remember that cold air flows downhill. If your garden is in a low spot, your chances of frost are greater. Be sure to pick a spot that gets at least 6 hours of direct sun every day.

If you must till, do it lightly. Then work the soil by shovel or trowel. Look to the farmers who use no-till cultivation for your inspiration. Your soil is an incredibly complex community of insects, earthworms and good bacteria. Incorporating compost, shredded leaves and kitchen scraps into your soil every year is a good idea. If you till your garden until all you have is dust, it will take years to recover. There is no ideal size for a garden. If this is your first year, 10 feet by 10 feet (100 square feet) is plenty to take care of. Start small and build on your success. If you want to produce food for storing and sharing, 20 feet x 30 feet (600 square feet) is a great size. If your soil is beyond help, raised beds may be the answer to your problem.

In the second part I will talk about choosing seeds, irrigation, fertilizer and the deer problem in Malta.