Spring is the perfect time to start your very own garden! Growing your own food is a great way to remain independent from being affected by food shortages and outbreaks that can plague other grocery stores. It can also be a great way to make sure that you have a variety of fresh produce and nutrients come winter.
Once you have decided to start a prepper garden, and figured out all the details surrounding your climate zone and the amount of space you have to grow, it is time to pick out your seeds! You might be thinking, “How do I go about choosing plants for my garden?” Find out below!
1. The Three Sisters
Native Americans were pros at being able to survive off of the land all year. They did this through what they called the three sisters. This consisted of growing enough beans, corn and squash to feed an entire village for the year. They chose these crops because they had a wide variety of uses, they were high in nutrients and incredibly easy to store. These crops make it easy to prepare for winter and have hardy sustenance available when you will not be able to grow anything.
2. Root Vegetables
Root vegetables like potatoes and carrots are another essential item that belongs in every prepper garden. Potatoes and carrots are extremely easy to grow and provide a nice yield. Plus they can be easily stored and enjoyed for months on end. Potatoes are very versatile in how they can be cooked and carrots offer up a good diversity of nutrients like fiber, beta-carotene, antioxidants, and vitamins A, C, K, and B8.
3. Early Spring crops
When spring first arrives, and people are first beginning to think about “How should I start choosing plants for my garden?” most of the time, they wait. People will hold off on planting anything until the ground becomes warmer and there is a more consistent temperature and the chance of sunshine. In most cases, it is good to wait to plant, but there are some vegetables that thrive when planted in early spring. It is best to take advantage of these early weeks and grow whatever you can so that you are yielding as many fresh vegetables as possible. Some of the best early spring crops include asparagus, spinach, lettuce and beets!
4. Summer Favorites
While you want to make sure that you are growing enough food for later use, it is not a bad idea to also grow some of your summer favorites to enjoy now. Growing tomatoes, berries and other prime summer produce is not going to waste your space because you are going to eat them as soon as they germinate. They can offer up essential nutrients that you cannot find in your winter vegetables, plus they taste good!
5. Flavor plants
Another thing to keep in mind is that you are going to want to make sure that you plant plenty of herbs, garlic and onions. Herbs are essential in providing your produce with plenty of flavor and can be easily stored and used in winter. Plus, a lot of herbs are perennials, which can reseed themselves and grow every year after on their own. Garlic is another flavor powerhouse, but it also is a powerful antibacterial that can help to boost your immune system. These are definitely items you are not going to want to leave out of your prepper garden.
Starting your own prepper garden can be difficult, especially when thinking about what plants to choose! We hope that we have answered mostly your question of “How do I begin choosing plants for my garden,” and you feel confident in making your first steps! At Civil Dispatch, we make your safety a priority. Sign up today!