Gardening tip: ever been afraid to try something new
by
Daniel Neiheisel
When i was a child i had to be told these things at the dinner table, \”Don\’t knock it until you try it.\” or \”Don\’t make a face before you taste it.\”? I learned my lesson, and developed a great love for food.. But as an adult I realize I\’m just a stubborn in my garden as a grown-up as I was at the table as a child.. I mean for this article to help you avoid that trap, or get out of it if you\’re already in it!
It was a few years ago when i came to the understanding that i was being stubborn as a mule about what i was growing in the garden and that i never varied from year to year. I was in the gardening rut, just growing the same salad greens a couple of different kinds of peppers, some scallions, the ubiquitous green beans, cucumbers, peas and yes though begrudgingly a few tomato plants for my equally obstinate husband who is of italian descent. I realize it was my stubbornness at the root of our battles over growing food for him, that I personally found no use for. But in the end I have to give credit to my husband for introducing me to a crop that was the beginning of me letting go of being fearful of trying new things in the garden.
One day my husband delivered me a package of Edemame seeds, or soybeans as their more commonly known. It was pretty painless for me to take the leap and make some room for one of my favorite restaurant appetizers in my own garden. This was a big step for me introducing an unplanned crop. I read the package for spacing requirements and took note of the days until harvest. Now that the seeds were in the ground, the next step was to get on the internet and do some research. I first went searching for recipes to make the restaurant style appetizer i knew and loved but eventually stumbled upon so much more information, like the rather complex process of making soy milk and tofu as well as very useful tips about freezing the valuable edemame seeds for winter storage. While I passed on the thought of making soy milk or tofu, I did prepare for what promised to be heavy harvest from all the little pods forming on the light green plants. I must confess that i made a mistake in the first year and neglected to follow the fertilizing requirements for edemame. I ended up with brown and bitter soybeans that first season.
I took responsibility for my failure to follow instructions, learn from my mistake and the next year ate more than 25 freezer bags full of soybeans! That winter we loved experimenting with making sushi for the first time, inspired by our own garden grown ingredient.
Trying new vegetables in the garden can be a little or a lot intimidating but no matter what, trying new things is always a road to greater learning and a richer understanding of what it means to be a gardener and to grow your own food. The bottom line is that there is no risk, because even in failure, like my first attempt at soybeans, there comes new knowledge, lessons learned and a greater victory in the end because of the experience. Here\’s my advice, open yourself up to the lessons even in failure and try something new every year. The Internet is a enormous resource for us all so it becomes easier to laugh at our failures because we can take responsibility for not seeking out the right information in the first place! Whatever you venture to try that is new and different such as Belgian endive, frisee, purple cauliflower, or Japanese sweet potatoes, just pay attention to the watering and fertilizing requirements. As you already know, each crop has it\’s own particular needs for feed and water so knowing those needs in advance will ensure the best possible outcome. I always look for tools that make all the different tasks easier in my garden. That\’s why i love my U Can watering can so much. It carries and dispenses fertilizer for you and will even help you remember your fertilizing schedule with the handy date dial. I cannot imagine gardening without mine and i give one or two as gifts to my gardening friends each year. It\’s always a hit.
In summary, I have learned to open my mind to more experimentation in the garden. In addition I have also learned to kindly give my husband a section of the garden to make his very own.
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