It's springtime across California, and even with WOLF School programs on hold during the pandemic, our gardens are thriving at Camp Arroyo. We caught up with Kim, our resident gardener, on her experiences and tips for beginner gardeners.
WOLF: What do you love most about gardening?
KIM: I like the fact that I am feeding myself and friends and controlling my budget. Also the quiet and working peacefully and seeing that I can actually watch a plant grow.
WOLF: Any funny or memorable moments from your experience gardening?
KIM: On my second week working at Camp Arroyo, I used the outhouse and got stuck inside with a rattlesnake! It took tears, fear, and standing on the toilet seat, but I finally got help, and the snake was removed and sent to another part of the camp.
When camp programs are in session, I love watching kids discovering that veggies are plants. Asparagus is a fun thing to introduce the kids to as it turns into a fern if it is not picked.
WOLF: Why do you recommend families garden now?
KIM: Gardening is something kids and adults can do together, it costs very little, and you can take pride in knowing that the food you cook together is food you grew together.
Starting a Veggie Garden: Tips for Beginners
Every gardener started as a beginner, and every gardener has had a crop that didn’t do well one year, a plant they just couldn’t get to grow. So don’t take it personally, and don’t give up.
NO ONE has a “black thumb.” Gardens require attention - sometimes daily, or every other day depending on the time of the growing season. Most often, “black thumbs” are caused by a lifestyle that doesn’t include the time required to be a successful gardener. So if you know it will be hard to commit the time, start small - even with just one pot.
Grow only things you like to eat.
There are hundreds of microclimates in the Bay Area alone. Try Googling “farms” plus your city name; you’ll probably get at least one near you, and most farm websites have lists or pictures of the crops they they grow. Now you know some crops that can likely be grown in your microclimate!
Cool weather (“winter”) crops vs. warm weather (“summer”) crops: Those titles mean nothing; cool weather crops are just right for summer in San Francisco and along the Pacific Coast. Warm weather crops love the inland summer heat of Livermore. Pick what is right for your climate.
You want the best soil you can get, which may or may not be what’s in your backyard. Camp Arroyo has clay soil, while parts of the coast have sandy soil - neither are very nutrient-rich. If your soil is clay-heavy or sandy, consider mixing it with some compost. Aim for about 20-40% compost, depending on how “bad” your soil is (more clay or more sand is worse). Look for worm casting, guano, or mushroom compost. Compost adds nutrition and loosens up clay soil, and helps sandy soil hold a bit more water. If you are growing in a pot, purchase some potting soil (organic, if you can afford it). DO NOT buy a brand with fertilizer already in it.
Seeds or seedlings (aka baby plants)? If you are growing tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, or herbs, buy seedlings, because they grow so slowly. I planted my tomato seeds on January 10th in a greenhouse, and they are now (first week of April) about 6 inches and ready to be put in the soil. (Seeds are much cheaper than seedlings, though, so if you can start the seeds early next year and have a warm spot for them to grow, it will save you money.) Plants that are easier to grow from seeds include beans, melons, squash, pumpkins, and cucumbers.
When in doubt, call up your local nursery, or connect with a local gardening club.
Happy gardening!
-Kim