Instead of foraging for leafy greens under supermarket fluorescents, why not try your hand at growing your own produce at home? After all, it can cost a lot more to fill up a cart than sowing some seeds, and the experience is so much better.
If you’re one of many people who are reluctant to jump into gardening due to a lack of know-how, I’m right there with you. That’s exactly why I wanted to write this story. To help guide us newbies down the right path, I sat down with local gardening expert Stephanie Szkolnicki. She gave me plenty of valuable insight on everything beginners should know about growing produce just in time for spring.
Stephanie is the owner of Southern Garden Solutions and has been growing in the upstate for well over a decade. She says learning how to grow any plant always starts with determining your goals. “Are you trying to replace some of your food? Are you trying to replace all of your vegetables that you eat? Or are you just trying to supplement? Having a goal can make a difference in how you grow,” Stephanie says.
After some goal setting, make a plan. If you’re hoping to grow a full garden, be diligent about where you decide to build it. Some areas will have direct sun for hours, which will be too harsh for certain plants such as leafy greens. Other plants, like tomatoes, will crave that direct light. Build your garden depending on what you want to grow…