My favorite Simpsons episode is about Lisa choosing to become a vegetarian. All sorts of antics ensue, culminating in Homer and Bart singing “You don’t make friends with salad.” But, we all know that you do—especially when you grow your own and invite your pals over for a fun out-of-doors dinner party featuring your fresh, home grown greens.
It’s definitely time to get those veggie starts in the ground so you’ll be able to reap your veggie bounty come summer. If you’re a novice gardener, rest assured that growing vegetables at home is truly not as difficult as it might seem. You’ll need space, sun, good soil, water, a simple design and a commitment to fun. There’s fun in creating a proper space for your plants, fun in seeing those germinating sprouts emerging from the soil, fun in caring for them while they grow and certainly fun in eating the rewards. You can learn more about why growing vegetables is beneficial and best practices for getting started—or, ask your neighbor whose already got that raised bed packed with starts and sprouts for advice.
Eight Favorites for the Urban Vegetable Garden
Greens like arugula (Eruca sativa), all varieties of lettuces (Lactuca sativa) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea) are easy to grow and care for—and necessary components of your summer meals. Portland favorites include spicy rocket (arugula) and red leaf, butter and romaine lettuces.
A bed of mixed salad greens
Another garden must is the berry trifecta—strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa), raspberries (Rubus) and blueberries (Vaccinium). Nearly every garden in town showcases these deliciously beautiful plants. Aside from the sweet fruits, strawberries are a good groundcover choice, raspberries are great climbers and blueberry bushes add pretty structure featuring whitish pink bell-shaped flowers and deep blue/purple fruits to your garden.
Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are the most delicious choice from the nightshade family, popular and seemingly endless in variety. Why not try heirlooms this year?
Colorful and sometimes spicy peppers (Capsicum; Pimenta) add variety to the garden and crunch at the table.
Lemon cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) are one of the most prolific vegetables around. These lemon-shaped yellow balls offer mild flavors and a perfect crunch in your salad. You’ll probably grow so many this year you’ll need to share the surplus with your neighbors.
Peppers and tomatoes should be staples in your garden
Asian eggplants (Solanum melongena) are beautiful plants that offer thin, small, shiny, purply fruits. Easy to grow, and even easier to add to your stir fry.
Both kale (Borecole) and chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla) varieties not only offer super nutrition but beauty to your garden. I mix both types in with my regular flowerbeds for color and structure that lasts well beyond summer. Once established, these two veggie powerhouses need virtually no care.
Vegetable Garden Resources
Purchase organic and heirloom veggie starts at your local New Seasons outpost (locations: Concordia, Sellwood-Moreland, Hosford-Abernethy and Arbor Lodge) and Woodlawn’s Buffalo Gardens. If you need more assistance setting up your first vegetable garden, contact Verdura Gardens and they’ll get you going with their selection of organic and rare heirloom varieties often not found in bigger retailers. Portland Nursery (locations: Mt. Tabor and Powellhurst-Gilbert) also offers great online resources and hands-on workshops for vegetable garden planning and planting.
This weekend, get that vegetable garden party started so you can enjoy the greens of your (easy and fun) labor.
