The idea of “victory gardens” is making a comeback, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty that situation brings to our families and communities. Back when the original victory gardens were being planted around the time of World Wars I and II, food was scarce and the world was at war with each other. Today, the world is united and fighting against one of nature’s smallest threats and our food, well, it’s out there … we just shouldn’t go out too often to get it.

That’s why I thought it might be a good idea to revisit the basics of vegetable gardening for those of you looking for some guidance. The National Gardening Bureau (NGB) founded in 1920 by James Burdett, thought it would be a good time to communicate these basics, too, calling it Victory Gardening 2.0. As well they should—this Mr. Burdett eventually authored the book, Victory Garden Manual, so they know a thing or two about what goes into creating a vegetable garden that can supply your family with fresh produce as you stretch out your visits to the local grocery store.

National Garden Bureau’s 10 Steps for Planning a Victory Garden

The NGB is posting a series of four informational articles about Victory Gardening 2.0, starting with this piece on Ten Steps for Planning Your Victory Garden 2.0. Feel free to give it a read. What I’d like to do here is highlight the very basic of their steps and add my own experiences.

1. Plant plants that are appropriate for your area, otherwise known as a USDA Hardiness Zone. What and when you plant in your Victory Garden in Georgia—where the growing season comes earlier and is longer—is different from what and when you plant in Maine. Find your USDA Hardiness Zone HERE. You’ll also want to know when the danger of frost is past by learning your approximate average last frost date HERE.
2. Find a place to plant. Ideally it’ll be a spot with plenty of full sun. You want at least 6-8 hours of unobstructed sun each day. You may have a sprawling back yard for in-ground or raised beds, or a sunny patio or porch for veg-filled containers. No outdoor space? A sunny window is a good spot for growing potted herbs indoors. Use what you have. A victory “garden” can be what you make it.
3. Know your soil. The safest thing to do if you’re planting vegetables directly into your property’s soil is to send a soil sample to your state’s soil testing laboratory or to a soil testing lab. The location and instructions are easily found with an internet search. Do it!
4. Grow what you and your family will eat. Kale may be the easiest thing to grow. But does anyone in your house enjoy it? Skip the kale then and plant some extra rows of peppers or green beans. Maybe you do plant one kale plant. If you try it and like it, well then, you’ve just pulled a “victory” out of your Victory Garden.

An Extra Tip

My tip? Prepare to put in the work. Certain vegetables are super easy to grow, such as green beans or garlic. Others take more interaction than you’d think, like heirloom tomatoes (staking! trimming!). And there’s all the watering and fertilizing and pest management. Not that I want to scare you off of gardening. I just don’t want you to be overwhelmed. Be realistic. Plant what you’ll eat and to the extent you have time for—and then enjoy the process. Your new Victory Garden really is worth the effort.