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Lower Grocery Bills by Planting a Vegetable Garden

CLEVELAND, July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Rising fuel prices have most Americans looking for places to trim their existing household budgets. From eating out less often to taking fewer vacations, Americans are finding ways to stretch their incomes, especially with the global rise in food prices. With a little hard work and creativity, consumers can lower their weekly grocery bill and reap the benefits of fresh produce by planting vegetable gardens - no matter the size of their yard.

"Everyone is affected by the rising food costs and looking for ways to help trim their bills," said Heidi Ketvertis, director of marketing communications for Troy-Bilt. "If you listen to the conversation happening online, people that have never tended a garden are now suddenly showing interest and searching advice. Gardening is not only a great activity for the whole family, but an activity that can definitely help provide significant savings."

Troy-Bilt(R) (http://www.troybilt.com), a leading manufacturer of outdoor power equipment, put together an easy guide for late summer and fall vegetable gardening, while there's still plenty of time to yield great produce and herbs.

Preparation

-- Research your local average first frost and hard frost dates. Plant your vegetables so they have adequate time to reach maturity before the first frost dates.

-- Consider which vegetables you frequently find on your grocery list. Plant the vegetables that you consume most frequently to realize the most difference in your spending.

-- Remove any residue from spring crops and clear beds of any weed growth. Consider adding some organic material to replenish nutrients in the soil. For beginners and small gardens, try using a Troy-Bilt electric cultivator (http://tinyurl.com/4a6npo). If you have a large area with hard-packed soil, try using the Troy-Bilt Pro-Line CRT garden tiller (http://tinyurl.com/5z9jjm).

-- Don't let size limit your plans. Think window gardens, or large container gardens. Even away from your yard, most community gardens (http://www.communitygarden.org ) offer plots for purchase.

Vegetable Varieties

-- For a successful fall harvest, you will want to plant varieties tolerant of cool weather and shorter days that will mature quickly.

-- The best plants for fall vegetable gardens include leafy greens, root crops and members of the cabbage family. Consider planting beets, carrots, Brussels sprouts, cabbages and fava beans in mid- to late-July.

-- Leeks, turnips, early carrots and perennial herbs such as oregano and mint are good varieties for August plantings.

-- For tasty results in 30 days or less, try early maturing crops such as chives, radishes, leaf lettuces and spinach.


    Here is a quick snapshot of what Troy-Bilt suggests to plant when:


    Vegetable         Suggested Planting Date     Days to Maturity
    Brussels Sprouts    July 1-15                 90-100
    Carrots             July 1-15                 85-95
    Beets               July 15-August 15         55-60
    Broccoli            July 15-August 15         70-80
    Collards            July 15-August 15         60-100
    Cabbage             August 1-15               70-80
    Cauliflower         August 1-15               55-65
    Leaf lettuce        August 1-September 1      40-50
    Cucumbers           August 1-15               40-50
    Spinach             August 1-15               50-60
    Turnips             August 1-31               55-60
    Radishes            August 15-September 15    25-30
    Kale                August 15-September 1     40-50
    Onions              September 1-30            130-150

SOURCE Troy-Bilt

Tags: ,AGR,HOU,OH-vegetable-garden

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Lower Grocery Bills by Planting a Vegetable Garden