Reduce your grocery bills: try a garden

Watching Michelle Obama till up the White House lawn for a veggie garden inspired me. The idea of growing my own tomatoes and basil (I do love homemade pesto) AND saving money is very appealing. Only thing is I don’t have a yard in my urban nabe. But I do have a cement slab out back that acts as sort of a patio.
“That’s good  enough,” says Charlie Nardozzi, senior horticulturist at the National Gardening Association. I called him to see how us city slickers could put our green thumbs to work. And I picked up some other great tips for anyone who wants to start a veggie patch in the next few weeks—the prime planting season.

Before you break ground, go to the National Weather Service for a brochure on gardening times.
And don't forget the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

And if you’re wondering if an afternoon of digging will reduce your grocery bills, you bet it will! A new report from the NGA found that the average 20-by-30-foot veggie garden with basics like tomatoes, lettuce, broccoli, and corn could save over $600 a year—and count on even more savings if you keep planting as crops are done. So here’s how to get started.

Contain it  All sorts of veggies can be planted in terracotta or other pots. There are a few exceptions like corn and pumpkin, which need a lot of space. But tomatoes, cukes, lettuces, herbs, and even summer squash can grow quite nicely in a pot. The bigger the vessel the better; also make sure it has a hole in the bottom for proper drainage. And one more thing: Park it in a spot that gets at least six hours of sun a day.

Raise it up Another idea for those with puny yard space: Try a small, raised bed. You don’t need anything bigger than a 3-by-3-foot area to reap a summer’s worth of bounty.

Make a patch Till a small 10-by-10-foot patch close to the house so you’ll remember to weed, water, and harvest your booty. Again, choose a sunny spot that gets good drainage. Tip: If your grass is green and lush, the soil there should also be perfecto for growing your own food.

Plant some yummy borders  Plant fruit-bearing shrubs. Blueberry, raspberry, and black berry bushes make pretty hedges or ornamental plantings dotting the lawn. Plus, consider the yum factor!

Savings tip! Growing veggies from seeds is a lot cheaper, but getting some starter plants from the garden center might be easier. Or consider trading plantings with gardening friends. For more tips go to garden.org