If you’re looking to grow your own food, now is the time to plant vegetables that love the heat.
CHARLOTTE, NC – With so many people spending more time at home, gardening has increased – and you don’t need a green thumb to have a successful garden.
“Part of it is that they are at home and stare at their yard and think … let’s do that or that would be pretty,” said Tracy Black, who works in sales at Pike Nursery.
She said she noticed an increase in the number of people who wanted to grow their own food from last year.
“I don’t know if it was just that uncertainty when all of this started last year, so it gave them some level of confidence that they could grow certain foods themselves,” Black said.
And Schwarz says the trend will continue this year as well.
“Lots of vegetable gardens and herb gardens,” she said. “They just want general knowledge about growing their own food.”
So if you are looking to grow your own food, now is the time to plant vegetables that love the heat.
RELATED: Do Plants Really Improve Your Mental Health?
“So when we think of gardens, especially in the warm season we are in, we think of our tomatoes, peppers and squash,” said Black. “And that’s exactly right. These are our summer gardens. They like the heat. ”
And the good thing is, you don’t need a backyard. As long as you have a patio or balcony, you’re good to go.
“The bigger key in this case is do you have enough sun?” Asked Black. “Are you getting enough direct sunlight, six hours or more, to grow it?”
For amateurs like Iisha Scott of WCNC Charlotte, there are a few things you will need like a bed, whether in the floor or raised, in addition to a few other things.
“You’ll want a pair of gloves. So if you’re digging in the ground, you want a good shovel and you need access to water,” Black said.
So if you are thinking of growing food, plants, or maybe just flowers, there is a date to consider
“As you know, April 15th is our frost-free date, so that’s the target date people have to look for,” Black said.
But if you already have plants or vegetables in the ground, cover them up because we’re not done with the cold yet.
RELATED: Lowe’s is giving away Free Gardening Kits in April. How to log in
RELATED: Here’s Why Pesticides Shouldn’t Be Your First Option
