By Tasha Medve of The Purposeful You

Starting a vegetable garden is one of the new trendy activities that people are trying this year given the circumstances in the world. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could create a completely (or almost) sustainable home? 

This is my eighth year with a vegetable garden and this year is extremely special given I have a little one year old that gets to experience the excitement of picking a fresh strawberry in the morning with me. 

If you’re thinking about creating a vegetable garden, it’s not too late! Here’s a few things you can plant in June. Our favourite seeds are West Coast Seeds as they are Canadian, certified organic and non-GMO.

  • Pole Beans
  • Carrots
  • Bush Beans
  • Celery
  • Collards
  • Cucumbers
  • Mesclun
  • Swiss Chard 
  • Artichokes
  • Starter tomatoes

If you are new to this, here’s our top five tips when creating a vegetable garden:

  1. Mix compost into your soil: We usually do ½ compost and ½ rich vegetable and herb garden soil in our garden beds. You can grow some vegetables and herbs in pots or in a raised bed. In Victoria, you can get compost and soil delivered to your home from Gravel Mart. Call now as it may take two to three weeks. Make sure to mix the soil well before planting.
  1. Pick out seeds to plant: It can be so fun to go to the garden centre and go wild with all the vegetables and fruit you want to plant, however, there’s some key things to remember when picking out your seeds:
  • What time of year do they need to be planted?
  • How much space does this vegetable/fruit need?
  • How much sunlight does it need?
  • Can it be sown directly into the garden or do you have to start indoors first? (Example: tomatoes need to be started indoors and planted in the garden mid-late June so this is a great one to purchase as a starter right now.)
  1. Make a garden plan: After you have an idea of what seeds you want to plant, come up with a plan. The biggest thing we learned was that some vegetables and fruits can’t be planted in the same spot year after year. For example, the cabbage family must be moved after each crop, this includes lettuce mixes, cabbages, arugula and more. Having a plan in the garden has been key for us.
  1. Feed your garden: Use an organic all-natural fertilizer once every three weeks, you’ll notice the difference with your vegetables and fruits. This helps them get the nutrients they need if they aren’t getting it from the soil. Purchase this from a garden centre and make sure to ask specific questions as there are so many products out there.
  1. Most importantly, have fun with it: It’s a learning curve no matter how much research you do. It’s hard work and it takes dedication but it’s so rewarding. Seeing our carrots sprout for the first time makes me feel purposeful and proud. Whether you’re a beginner or an avid gardener, remember you’re always learning. Sometimes things work out and other times they don’t, never give up! 

For more garden advice — as well as tips for a low-waste lifestyle and how to make more purposeful choices for the planet — follow The Purposeful You on Instagram and Facebook.