Gardening In The Grove
by Bill Valuch

First Ladies Dish The Dirt

Vegetable gardening is back! Actually it never left, but it sure has made the news lately. First Ladies Michelle Obama and Maria Shriver have rolled up their sleeves, put on their gloves and grabbed their shovels. I doubt there will be much dirt underneath those fingernails, but that’s OK. They have brought the importance of vegetable gardening to a higher level.

Hopefully, their efforts will inspire our future gardeners and get them started on a hobby or career that will last a lifetime. Some of my earliest memories are of gardening with my mom. She was not the greatest gardener, but she made sure that I had the opportunity to enjoy the connection of tilling the soil, planting a seed and watching it grow. I can remember planting radishes in my grammar school class and learning about photosynthesis in junior high, all the start of a love of gardening. Hopefully, the Obama girls will have similar fond memories of their first White House vegetable garden.

If you have children, grandchildren or a neighborhood youngster, do them a favor and help them plant some carrot seeds or start a tomato plant. You will be teaching them valuable lessons they may not be able to learn in class, given all of the cutbacks our school systems are experiencing. They will remember the experience forever and may even think of you years from now when they have their own homes and start that first real vegetable garden. I love it when I see a youngster buying vegetable seeds at our shop. They always have a story to tell, and I am always amazed at how much they already know about gardening. So go ahead, become a gardening mentor and get a young one started.

Tomatoes
We are often challenged here in Pacific Grove when it comes to sunny summers, but that should not stop our pursuit of that tasty vine ripe tomato. There are several low heat varieties that do well here. San Francisco Fog and Patio types seem to flourish. Also, Better Boy and Early Girl can do well. Find that spot in the yard that gets the most sun, hopefully up against a wall or fence, and give them a try. Container gardening is popular where space is limited, and the ability to move them around the garden or patio is a plus.

There is nothing better than picking one right off the vine. A helpful hint: tomato starter plants should be planted deep. Remove the lowest set of leaves and plant up to that level for a strong, healthy crop.

Other Vegetables
Don’t be afraid to try other types of vegetables. Zucchini, peas, string beans and cucumbers will also do well. Many of the leafy vegetables like lettuce, spinach and chard do well in low heat environments. We have many microclimates throughout the peninsula that can produce a fruitful garden, so give different varieties a try. As you already know, successful gardening is a result of trial and error, so keep it simple and hopefully your successes will be many.

I just started my own vegetable garden and can’t wait to start picking those treasures fresh each day. There is nothing better for me than heading down to the garden and coming back with a basketful for dinner that evening. Getting to that point is just as rewarding. It takes weeks and sometimes months from planting to harvesting, and the growing time in between can be just as fulfilling. The planting, daily tending, watching them grow, working the soil, it’s all so worthwhile—not only for the harvest, but also for the soul.

So, thank you, First Ladies, for shining a light on a sometimes forgotten task that has brought us through good times and bad, always producing in so many ways. Our vegetable gardens! We have a variety of seeds, herbs and vegetable plants at the shop and would love to dish the dirt with you. Stop by and share your secrets.

As always, you can email your tips, questions and suggestions to misstrawicks@sbcglobal.net or stop by the shop at 664 Lighthouse Avenue in Pacific Grove. Also visit us at www.misstrawicks.com.