Produce your Produce

No matter what kind of space you have, you can grow some of your own food as long as your planting location has at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day.  Make your garden site convenient, easy to reach, and near a water source.  Choose an area with well-drained soil and improve drainage by adding organic matter such as compost or well-rotted leaves. Raised beds are a good alternative to circumvent soil problems.  When planning start small then increase plot size with experience; consider mature size and form of crops; and most importantly, select plants you like to eat.  Locate your garden where there is good air circulation.  

Create an edible, attractive landscape by growing vegetables, fruits, and herbs mixed with your ornamentals.  Producing your own produce is easy when you plan ahead and use good horticultural practices.  For more information on home vegetable gardening,  Download PDF. 

Warm-Season and Cool-Season Vegetables

The NC Piedmont has several planting seasons. Cool-weather vegetables—those that like warm days and cooler nights—are planted in the spring and fall. Warm-weather vegetables are planted for summer production.

Spring Vegetable planting guide for NC

Fall Vegetable Planting guide for NC

Vegetables, fruits and herbs in containers

If you have limited garden space, grow your own produce in containers, grow bags, or window boxes.  Even if you live in a condo or apartment, containers can be positioned in sunny spots on your steps, patio, or deck.  Be sure the containers have adequate sunlight, proper drainage holes, good potting mixture, and ample room to hold roots of mature plants.  Look for vegetables that thrive in small spaces, such as dwarf, bush, or determinate varieties that grow to a specific height and width such as ‘Tom Thumb’ peas, ‘Silver Fir Tree’ tomatoes, or ‘Baby Bubba’ okra.

For more on container vegetables

Herbs

Herbs also make excellent container plantings in sunny locations. Mix different kinds of herbs and small vegetables like lettuces and other leafy greens or even add flowers for an attractive, edible display.  Herbs recommended for container gardening are: variegated sage, chamomile, parsley, Greek oregano, basil, thymes, and chives.  For details on container herbs: www.urbanext.illinois.edu/containergardening/herbveggie.cfm

HERBS, both annual and perennial, are hardy, useful garden additions, which provide beauty and fragrance while growing and fresh flavors when harvested for culinary use.  The following are some of the more popular culinary herbs that grow well in the Piedmont.

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