Gardening may save grocery expense

Nebraska

With food prices sliding upward along with the price of fuel, more people may want to grow some of their own groceries, said a University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension associate.

Although continuing cold temperatures and threats of snow make it seem early for gardening, lettuces, onions and beets could already be growing in many gardens, said George Haws, Extension associate for Lincoln and McPherson counties.

"If you're planting lettuce now, select heat tolerant varieties, like buttercrunch, that bolt slowly," Haws said. "Lettuce planted now will definitely be exposed to hot temperatures before it matures."

Some people seed their broccoli and cabbages directly into the garden, Haws said, and early spring is the time to do it. Those who buy plants out of a nursery should harden them before planting them into the garden. Gradually expose the plants to outside conditions over a period of 10 days to two weeks, he said. Haws advised starting in an outdoor area that's somewhat protected from the wind and sun. Then leave them out for longer periods of time each day and move them slowly into more exposed areas.

Cut back on watering the plants as they get closer to planting time, Haws said. Don't let them wilt, but prepare them for less moist conditions in the garden.

Plants may need some protection, even though they've been hardened, if the temperatures drop, especially crops like tomatoes that don't tolerate frost. The cover can be as simple as a hot cap, purchased from the store, or a plastic container, or even a five-gallon bucket.

It's not too late to start cucumbers, melons and squash indoors, Haws said. He advised using peat pots or pellets because those crops don't tolerate transplanting very well when their roots are disturbed. If you plant the whole thing, the roots will grow right through the peat. Give them about three weeks inside before planting them into the garden.

They can also be planted directly into the garden from seed, but not this early. These plants need warm soil temperatures, so they should not be planted until the nights warm considerably.

With even a small garden plot and a few seeds, people can take a bit of the edge off the grocery bill.

Extension is part of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

5/19/08
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Date: 5/12/08

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