Posted: 05/20/2010 12:00:00 AM MDT
EL PASO -- A little over a year ago, first lady Michelle Obama made history by planting a vegetable garden on the South Lawn of the White House. She said she hoped it would inspire people to follow suit or at least eat better.
Her words resonated with some people in El Paso, who stepped outside and grabbed a pitchfork. Me? Lord, no! That seemed like a lot of work. But hardier types, like Jimmy Perez and his mom, accepted the challenge.
I recently visited Jimmy to look at his ripening veggie patch, which he planted in January after hearing about Mrs. Obama's efforts. He is now about to harvest potatoes, carrots, beets, cilantro, lettuce, onion, garlic, cantaloupe, chile, lettuce and more. While trying to sweet-talk Jimmy into giving me some free veggies, I asked him how he went about it. You see, Jimmy is no Master Gardener, and the first lady didn't leave instructions.
So Jimmy found guidance from an old gardening book, dollar-store seeds and the advice of green-thumbed friends in Austin. Jimmy's plot is a 7-by-7-foot raised box with sides about 12 inches high. The wooden frame sits on top of the lawn and is filled with a layer of rocks for drainage and several inches of topsoil. It's strategically placed within reach of the sprinkler system. That's an easy way to do a veggie patch in a desert climate because you don't have to deal with the soil, which can be sandy, rocky or contaminated with lead. Most plants don't accumulate lead from the soil, but I wouldn't plant too many leafy vegetables around the old Asarco plant.
Why should you plant vegetables? You'd grow food that's healthier because it's not processed. And that's good for the planet because it isn't shipped long distances in greenhouse-gas-emitting trucks. You could save money. The first lady spent only $200 on seeds and mulch for her 1,100-square-foot garden and is reaping more than 55 varieties of vegetables for the White House kitchen. You could get exercise. But perhaps above all, gardening is good for the soul. Growing things is deeply satisfying and, when done with a loved one, a meaningful bonding experience. Jimmy and his mother are proud of their vegetable garden.
"We're always talking about it," he said.
Other tips to start your veggie patch:
Start small. You'll be amazed how much food you can grow in a small plot, and you can always add to it later. The first lady expanded her garden last month, and so did Jimmy, adding a watermelon patch and several side experiments, including a compost pile.
Choose plants carefully. Vegetables have different planting times; some (pumpkins, squash, watermelon) will spread out more than others; some grow better on a trellis (cucumbers); and some do well in pots (herbs, tomatoes).
If you start now, you can still plant tomatoes, melons, squash, cucumbers, eggplants, beans and peppers, or wait for the end of summer and plant onions, carrots, cabbage, peas and broccoli.
Plant a little at a time so all your produce doesn't come out at once.
Pick a sunny spot, away from the shade of trees.
Fertilize and mulch. Mulching will help retain moisture, regulate soil temperature and reduce weeds.
Watch out for pilfering birds. Jimmy built a PVC frame around his raised box and draped netting over it. I wonder how the first lady keeps birds away. Secret Service guard duty?Check out photos of Jimmy's vegetable garden and read more gardening tips at www.lagreenga.com
I recently visited Jimmy to look at his ripening veggie patch, which he planted in January after hearing about Mrs. Obama's efforts. He is now about to harvest potatoes, carrots, beets, cilantro, lettuce, onion, garlic, cantaloupe, chile, lettuce and more. While trying to sweet-talk Jimmy into giving me some free veggies, I asked him how he went about it. You see, Jimmy is no Master Gardener, and the first lady didn't leave instructions.
So Jimmy found guidance from an old gardening book, dollar-store seeds and the advice of green-thumbed friends in Austin. Jimmy's plot is a 7-by-7-foot raised box with sides about 12 inches high. The wooden frame sits on top of the lawn and is filled with a layer of rocks for drainage and several inches of topsoil. It's strategically placed within reach of the sprinkler system. That's an easy way to do a veggie patch in a desert climate because you don't have to deal with the soil, which can be sandy, rocky or contaminated with lead. Most plants don't accumulate lead from the soil, but I wouldn't plant too many leafy vegetables around the old Asarco plant.
Why should you plant vegetables? You'd grow food that's healthier because it's not processed. And that's good for the planet because it isn't shipped long distances in greenhouse-gas-emitting trucks. You could save money. The first lady spent only $200 on seeds and mulch for her 1,100-square-foot garden and is reaping more than 55 varieties of vegetables for the White House kitchen. You could get exercise. But perhaps above all, gardening is good for the soul. Growing things is deeply satisfying and, when done with a loved one, a meaningful bonding experience. Jimmy and his mother are proud of their vegetable garden.
"We're always talking about it," he said.
Other tips to start your veggie patch:
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