Maria asks…
What’s “greener”: Growing your own vegetables or buying locally farmed seasonal vegetables?
I’m keen on reducing the impact I have on the world. Yet it’s hard to know what’s best. I mean, you could look at growing your own vegetables… Say runner beans, or you could go to the local shop and buy locally farmed runner beans which could in theory be greener.
Say you grow enough runner beans to last a whole winters worth of roast dinners*.
Also you buy enough runner beans to last a whole winters worth of roast dinners*.
*a roast, every sunday where runner beans make up a portion.
In my heart I believed growing my own would be greenest, but my head says buying would… since if you produce something en masse in theory it could be more efficient. (i.e. you water a couple of square meters of runner beans compared to a couple of hectares of runner beans you’ll probably use more water per bean on the former)
Hi, Please exclude my single example of the different amounts of water used. I wish to include machinery emissions involved in harvesting, transportation emmisions, assuming loose runner beans not the evil plastic wrapped crap, and so on. Any factor that contributes towards it being less green. ‘Green’ is not carbon, it is not water, it is not chemicals, it is many things:)
Hi, Thanks for all the answers. I have been trying to grow some of my own herbs and vegetables with varying success. It is also on my list of things to do to plant native plants, trees and so on. I want to try to reduce my negative affects of the earth and it’s inhabitants (yet, I do want to live!) and I want to do more positive things for other nature (like encourage insects to native plants encouraging birds!)
GardenersCardiff answers:
When i come across such “petty green things/initiatives”(no offense),i think of those people who modify their cars and do drift racing.racing sports is such a waste of fuel and resources in itself but on top of it people are engaged in drift racing ! ? This makes m sad and i come to the conclusion that torturing yourself to be green helps these people to waste some more precious resource and be just opposite to GREEN.Think of it tell whoever you meet forget about such silly things.BUY from LOCAL FARMS.
Sharon asks…
How often should I water my vegetable seeds?
I’ve just bought a starter kit to grow my own vegetable patch and I’m unsure as to how often I should water the seeds. In the kit there are 5 small pots with compost and 5 packets of seeds (pumpkin, tomato, spring onion, cucumber and carrot). The instruction booklet tells me how to plant the seeds but has no instructions on how often they need watering or feeding.
I’m a complete novice at this sort of thing and any advice would be much appreciated. It would be great to be able to eat fresh vegetables that I have grown myself!!
GardenersCardiff answers:
You have a huge variety of plants there!! They will all need different amounts of water once they germinate…until then just keep the soil moist but not soaking. Once they germinate, you will find the pumpkin will grow very fast and probably need transplanting into a bigger pot. The cucumber will also grow pretty fast and need transplanting. You didn’t specify the pot size, but a pumpkin should go into a 4″ pot, and the cucumber into a 2-4″ pot….one plant per pot. The cuke and pumpkin will be ready to transplant into the garden much sooner than the tomato(slower grower) Carrots are usually direct seeded into the garden, not started in pots. I suggest you just go buy a pack of seeds and wait and plant them later in the garden. Good luck!
David asks…
I want to start a vegetable garden in my yard. Any suggestions?
I live in Maryland. I was wondering what vegetables would be ideal to grow in my area? I guess, to be more specific, are there any vegetables that I can plant in August and will be ready to harvest in the fall?
I am not sure how green my thumb is but I certainly would love to at least try to grow my own vegetables. I am just unsure of what vegetables are ideal for each particular season.
GardenersCardiff answers:
You can get in a nice harvest of peas, bush beans, radishes, turnips, salad greens, basil, cilantro, and if you can still find some broccoli, cauliflower, or cabbage plants, you can get a small-to-decent harvest of those.
Now, get off the computer and start planting! Time’s a wastin’ girl!
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Sandra asks…
Do you grow your own fruit or vegetables?
GardenersCardiff answers:
My six year old daughter wanted a garden 2 yrs ago and we planted corn, green beans, tomatoes, bell peppers, garlic, water melons, green onions, cucumbers,and banana peppers. The deer around here ate all the corn and the rabbits had a field day in the garden too, we have moved across the street since then and all we have planted so far is flowers, but the veggies and fruits are not far off, possibly this spring.
Mandy asks…
Should everyone start growing their own fruit and vegetables?
If enough people did this, prices would come down and governments and greedy bankers would realise they don’t have such a hold on us. At the moment too many people are reliant on buying food from supermarkets-who’s prices are fixed by the city and walk street. Growing your own produce, all or just some of it. This can be grown in your garden, in an allotment if you have one, a roof garden. Even if you live in a flat this can be done inside and in window boxes. We the people need to start influencing politicians and bankers with our actions as they are meant to be our loyal servants, not the other way round.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Great question, yes everybody should as its better for you and tastes better. The supermarkets stuff is garbage, i get the kids involved growing healthy little gem lettuce and potatoes, they actually get excited at cropping time.
Everybody should do this and there should be more allotments available to the ordinary joe public.
Great question and happy growing to all posters
Linda asks…
Ii it better to buy vegetable seeds in a packet, than to harvest seeds from your own vegetables for later use?
I grew some okra from seed I took from last years crop. They are very stunted.
GardenersCardiff answers:
I don’t think that it’s a “racket” by the seed companies to get you to buy seed in packets. It’s the knowledgeable advancement that botanists use in plant genetics that makes you have to by hybridized seed. Seed in the F2 generation, will not grow true to form. In other words, it will not be just like the plant that it came from and will most likely take the growing and production habits from one of the parent plants, which in the long run may have an undesirable trait. In order to get a healthy maximum producing plant, you will need to buy seed in packets which have been bred for maximum yield and perfect plant growth. Hope this answers your question.
**Billy Ray**
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