Growing your own vegetables

By Guest Columnist Doug Carter, MSU Extension Agent

There are many good reasons for growing a garden in Mississippi. Especially this year, since we have been quarantined because of COVID-19. Having a chance to get outside and work in a garden will be so good for us.

A garden offers the opportunity to enjoy vegetables at their freshest. Sometimes only minutes elapse between harvest, preparation, and eating. On the other hand, most fresh vegetables available at the grocery store travel about 1,800 miles between producer and consumer, and this travel often occurs, over a period of time, usually several days. So, there is a lot to be said about “homegrown” freshness.

Vegetable gardens are traditional in Mississippi. When the state was more rural, most of the family food was grown at home. Even now, many older Mississippians grow gardens that are much too large for their own use, just to have fresh vegetables to give family friends, and others who are unable to garden.

We select vegetables and the amount to plant by looking forward to harvest, and how we will use the vegetables. There is no sense in planting something which will not be used.

When looking for something to grow, consider your available space. Some vegetables take a lot of garden space for a long time, while others are planted and harvested in a short period of time, producing a lot, in a little space. Melons, pumpkins, vining types of squash, and sweet potatoes are in the garden for a long time, yet the harvest is short. Okra, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and pole beans are also in the garden a long time, but these produce a continuous supply of food.

Sweet corn is another example of a vegetable that takes much space, but many folks plant it because it is so good.

Vegetables to consider for small gardens are bush snap and lima beans, leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, mustard, and turnips, green onions, tomatoes, sweet peppers, and eggplant. As space permits, add broccoli, cabbage, hot peppers, okra, summer squash, southern peas, and pole beans.

Plant varieties recommended for growing in Mississippi. Don’t continue to plant old vegetable varieties, when there are new varieties that resist disease and give higher yields and quality.

Also, the amount of sunlight your garden receives is important. Ideally, the garden should receive full sun all day.

Sometimes, full sun is just not possible. Vegetables grown for their fruit or seeds, such as corn, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, beans, and peas, should be planted in the sunniest spots.

For more information on gardening, please stop by the Rankin County Extension Office, 601 Marquette Road, in Brandon, and pick up a Garden Tabloid.