Tomato seedling ready for planting. (C) Fotolia.com
At least 38.6 percent of Midwesterners who had a food garden last year plan to grow more edibles in 2010. Only 0.3 percent anticipates growing less food. Thirty-five percent said they would grow about the same this year, according to the most recent Garden Trends Survey conducted by TechnoMetrica for the Garden Writers Association Foundation, released earlier this month.
In general, there seems to be more slightly more people interested in gardening in the Midwest than at the national level. Nationally, 37.1 percent plan to grow more food; 1.1 percent plans to grow less and 29.4 percent plan to grow about the same.
Last year in the Midwest, 42.7 percent grew veggies compared to 37.9 percent nationally. Of those, 2.3 percent were first timers in the Midwest compared to 7.4 percent nationally.
Besides veggies, 15.6 percent of Midwesterners who grew edibles had an herb garden compared to 17.8 percent nationally. Fruit was grown in the Midwest by 12.4 percent of gardeners compared to 15 percent nationally.
Why we grow our own: 59 percent, better nutrition; 58 percent, personal satisfaction; 52 percent, better taste and variety selection; 46 percent for supplemental food; 41 percent as a family activity; 38 percent for food safety, and 32 percent to donate.
Veggie Gardening
To learn more, check out Vegetable Gardening 101 and 102, two, free, 30-minute seminars I’m teaching as part of Indiana Living Green’s Green Scene, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., March 6 at the Indianapolis City Market. Registration by March 2.