There is a simple method in determining the time required in keeping a vegetable plot.
For this exercise, imagine a garden that is 4 feet wide and eight feet long (that’s 32 square feet.)
First, consider how much time is required to till or turn the area with a spade. In a small area of 32 square feet, turning with a spade is probably preferable. The operation should take about 15 minutes and another 15 to 20 minutes to build and level the garden beds.
Next, plan for 10 minutes a week planting. A good fall garden should have crops maturing every week. To do this, it might be necessary to plant several seeds per week.
Add another 15 minutes per week to weed and hoe the area. Weeds compete with vegetables for nutrients and water.
Add about 10 minutes a day for watering and other tasks. This assumes that a garden hose is available. If the gardener plants to tote water with a bucket or watering can, this can be much longer.
That’s almost two hours a week.
- A 10 foot X 10 foot garden will take five to six hours a week.
- Double that for a 20 X 20 foot garden. That’s 12 hours per week.
- Triple for a 30 X 30 garden, or 18 to 20 hours a week.
Twenty hours is a great deal of time to start and maintain a garden.
Family Gardens in Fall
The larger the garden, the more produce the garden will theoretically provide. A large 900 square foot garden can provide a considerable amount of vegetables, perhaps enough for a family of four.
Canning and Preserving
An entirely different area of using vegetables is through canning, preserving and freezing. While this does take time, it can provide nourishing vegetables throughout the year.
Work Required for Fall Gardens
Work in a garden, while not overly strenuous, does require some exertion. It’s a true form of “sweat equity.” Gardening is good exercise, provides fresh air, a sense of accomplishment and fresh, nutritious produce. However, it does require regular visits to the garden to water, weed, control pests, harvest and do other chores.
On the other hand, there is nothing like broccoli, straight from the garden as a part of dinner, and fresh radishes in a salad. These are both fall crops. Pumpkin soup, made from one’s own pumpkins, winter squash in a casserole, and garden grown Chinese cabbage in stir fry are unequaled in taste, freshness, quality, and especially pride in having grown one’s own vegetables.
Related articles:
Choosing a Site for a Fall Garden
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