Home vegetable gardens on the rise amid Covid-19 pandemic

Interest in home gardening has climbed during the Covid-19 pandemic and the Dumont's Seed Co. in Canton, Ohio has greenhouses full of plants. Photos: Ray Stewart/TNS

Growing a vegetable garden is like raising a child from baby to adulthood.

First-timers are often nervous and scared. Resources and tips on the subject are bountiful, but no one achieves perfection. You nurture, protect and try to make all the right decisions, so your crops will reach maturity, where they'll provide a bounty for your proud family.

Local gardening experts and suppliers say more newcomers than ever will plant home vegetable gardens this year, likely due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Not only are many people stuck at home, they are also discovering the fragility of the food supply chain.

"Lots and lots of newbies," said Sherese Streamo, owner of the Dumont's Seed Co. in Canton, Ohio, the United States.

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A Dumont's Seed Co. employee stocking a greenhouse.

She said many have bought flats of pepper and tomato plants and she has to remind them it's far too early to put them in the ground yet.

"We help... work with them on soil needs, spacing and when to plant," she explained.

It's especially true in northeast Ohio, where certain vegetables can be sowed directly from seed outdoors, while others do best with an indoor kick-start.

"Vegetable garden seeds are the new toilet paper," mused Heather Neikirk, who coordinates the Stark County Master Gardener Volunteer programme and is the Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator at Ohio State University Extension office in Massillon.

Tom Phillips, executive director of StarkFresh, said his group was on track to distribute 90,000 seed packets via 12 partner sites in Stark County, but was only a little more than halfway done when pandemic distancing and closing guidelines took effect.

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"Vegetable garden seeds are the new toilet paper," quips Neikirk.

​​​​​​​The nonprofit, along with some local libraries, partnered with the Stark County Educational Service Center's Farm to School Program to distribute the remainder of the seeds in grab-and-go lunches later this month.

Amy Acton, Ohio Department of Health director, delivered a message last month, practically urging Ohioans to get into the garden.

"I'd much rather be outside digging in the dirt right now," Acton said.

This year's avalanche of interest in so-called Covid-19 gardens is reminiscent of World War II victory gardens and the surge from a decade ago when the country was mired in an economic recession.

Patio trees, like this lime tree, make growing fruit possible.

Vegetable gardening newcomers and novices don't have to be intimidated, experts say.

Some key things to consider: Select a location with at least eight hours of sunlight per day; learn the difference between cool and warm weather crops; follow planting directions on seed packets and transplant tags for optimal success; consider those varieties labelled as resistant to diseases; plant things you like to eat.

"You can do it; start small," Neikirk suggested.

Phillips said plants are more resilient than people think. However, he said expect to make mistakes and experience failures. He said farmers try something new every year and they are experts.

"Just give it a shot," he said.

One bit of advice that is universal: Start small. Don't try to plant an area larger than you can properly care for during the growing season.

"The reward is priceless; gardening can be great therapy," Neikirk said. "But gardens are a lot of work... and Mother Nature is not very kind." – By Tim Botos/The Repository Canton/Tribune News Service