What was grown in a victory garden

A sunny patch in the backyard is an obvious choice for a victory garden, but it's not the only option. Window boxes, containers, and even rooftops can be utilized with great success. Are you short on space? Consider working in edible plants around your existing flowers and shrubs. Are you stuck with a shady backyard? Then, think about planting your victory garden in the front yard. Many fruit and vegetable plants are actually quite attractive, so there's no need to give up curb appeal.

Plus, front yard gardens are becoming common in some neighborhoods. And even if they aren't yet sprouting up your neighborhood, you could start the trend.

Just make sure you follow local ordinances. No space to garden? See whether there are any community gardens in your town.

Or consider asking a friend whether you can garden on their land in exchange for a cut of the harvest. The USDA hardiness zones provide a guide for what will grow in different climates. Join the conversation. Related Stories. Read all recent posts. You might be surprised to know that jasmine holds. David is the cofounder of Terremoto, a landscape d. Ken and Jean Victor Linsteadt love symmetry. So many gardeners these days are looking for ways. Fragrance is such an important component in garden.

You can also harvest them at any stage: leaf, shoot and root. The thing to remember about beets is that thinning is usually necessary. Crowded plants will make for smaller roots, but regular thinning will give you slender pickings for early salads.

Beets grow best in well-drained, loose sandy loam. Before planting, gently loosen the soil with a digging fork. It helps to add potash to the bottom of your planting row along with your compost and organic fertilizer: you can do this with a fine sprinkle of wood ash. Plant seeds inches apart and thin any seedlings that emerge to 4 inches.

Sow every three weeks for a continuous harvest. When to plant: Plant in mid-spring to midsummer when soil temperature is F. With a little bit of care cabbages are easy to grow. Most cabbages bred for summer harvest grow quickly, in as little as 45 days.

You can start these indoors in early spring or sow directly into your garden later in the season. Fall harvest cabbages take longer in the ground, closer to days, but will reward you with longer storage times. Choose from green or purple varieties for fresh eating, cooking or fermenting. The main cabbage pest is the cabbage moth, known for chomping away at leaves and leaving unappetizing holes. To treat problems after they appear, use neem oil. Cabbage maggots could also be a problem.

For moderate problems treat with wood ash around the base of the plant. Related: How to Control Cabbage Maggots. Cabbages are part of the brassica family, which benefits from a lower pH in the soil. Add more fertilizer or compost mid-season to help your cabbage form large heads. Cabbages grow into large plants: space seeds or seedlings 18 inches apart in 2 foot rows.

You can remove the loose, outer leaves before storage. When to plant: Plant summer and fall cabbage after the ground warms up in early spring. For winter varieties, start seedlings in springtime and transplant out in mid to late summer. Fall harvest, days. Winter harvest, days. Once established, the plants are vigorous and tough, but they need lots of nutrients and water.

In many places you can sow cucumbers directly into the ground, but if you live in a cooler climate, start seeds indoors. Many varieties benefit from support, but some will grow taller than others.

Pay attention to the details on your seed package. A strong trellis will help pollinators find your plants and support continuous fruiting all season long. Plants with a shorter growing habit will do well when planted into mounds where they can sprawl. To prepare your soil, add dolomite lime along with your complete organic fertilizer and compost.

In some locations, cucumbers are susceptible to damping off, a fungal infection that attacks the base of young seedlings. If this happens, treat your soil with chamomile tea or strongly diluted hydrogen peroxide and plant again. Mature plants should be spaced 9 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart. When to plant: Cucumbers need warm soil to germinate F. In theory, that means you may only need to buy kale seed once in your life.

The rest of the time, it will plant itself. Kale comes in three main varieties: Scottish, Russian, and Mediterranean. Scottish kale is curly and can be quite decorative in the garden.

Russian kale is flatter and lacier and often has bright, colorful ribs. Mediterranean kale is elegant and plume-like. While these plants all look a little different, they share the same rich nutrients and easy care growing. Like cabbage above, kale is a member of the brassica family and likes soil where lime has been added. Neighbors pooled their resources, planted different kinds of foods and formed cooperatives, all in the name of patriotism. Farm families, of course, had been planting gardens and preserving produce for generations.

Now, their urban cousins got into the act. All in the name of patriotism. Magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post and Life printed stories about victory gardens, and women's magazines gave instructions on how to grow and preserve garden produce. Families were encouraged to can their own vegetables to save commercial canned goods for the troops.