Growing up, the backyard garden was part of the natural passage through the seasons. Living on Donner Summit has been difficult to adjust to with our late spring/early fall weather. Many people say: ‘You just can’t have a garden here.’ But with a little planning and preparation, that doesn’t have to be true! I’m sure we can all list reasons why gardening is difficult here, from tough rocky soil to shady yards, cold nights, and wildlife among other factors. Throwing caution to the wind I decided to go for it last spring with the simple goal of nurturing at least one good tomato! So I set up pots, buckets and washtubs on my front porch to take advantage of the southern exposure.
Tending my plants after work became a great way to unwind from the day and my expectations were exceeded by far. The tomatoes were delicious –the best I’ve eaten in years. Fresh-cut basil speaks for itself and the ‘ring of fire peppers’ challenged even my bravest spicy food loving friends. This year I’ll be adding greens and root vegetables in a raised bed that I established last year with a hoop house for frost protection. I’d like to encourage everyone who has the slightest inkling to ‘go for it’; you might just surprise yourself and your neighbors! Tips for success:
- Now is the time to start seedlings inside near a sunny window or buy well-established starts from a local nursery. A good head start goes a long way.
- Choose crops and varieties to fit the local climate and length of growing season. Greens, herbs, cherry tomatoes, and hot peppers seemed to grow the best for me. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
- Use pots so you can move your crops around to protect them from the elements. The five-gallon size seemed to work best for me; allowing for an ample root mass while still being manageable to move. Use black pots to increase the heat absorption though the day and bring them inside when overnight temperatures are predicted to dip below 45 degrees.
- Remember that the intensity of our summertime sun can be pretty harsh on a younger plant; stage plants in some shade and gently transition them when shifting to their outdoor routine.
- Check out the archives of ‘Chronicles of a Dirt Farmer’ by Gary Romano at moonshineink.com. There’s a lot of really great information to be found there.
- When you become the envy of the neighborhood–share some of your bounty and encourage your neighbors to porch garden too!
