Get Your Garden On BY JEN OLENICZAK BROWN
I am a plant person. Kind of how cat people have a lot of cats, I have an almost embarrassing amount of plants. Even when I lived in Brooklyn in a tiny apartment with cats that ate houseplants, I crammed everything I could onto my fire escape. Peppers, tomatoes, herbs – all in little pots, all smuggled back inside when the Fire Marshall came to check the building (because…plants on the escape might prove a problem if there is an actual fire!). When I moved to Winston I was delighted to HAVE an actual garden in the ground, but there was a whole new wrench in my plant-loving brain: certain plants don’t thrive, no matter what you do, in certain areas of the country. You might be thinking, “Well, of course!” But if you’re like me, you were a bit shocked by that last statement, and maybe even questioning your skills! Don’t worry, I’ve learned a few things about this area of the country and what thrives – and what might not. While I’m not a botanist yet, I’ve figured out a few places to start, look and people to ask. First off, we’re firmly located in Zone 7 according to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. This map is used to show where certain species are most likely to thrive – and while it’s not an absolute, it’s a nice place to start your plant quest. Zones are determined by the average annual extreme minimum temperature – which explains my zone swap from Brooklyn to Winston-Salem. You can go with a lower zone on your Google search for seeds, but a higher zone wouldn’t be a great idea (for example, in Forsyth County, Zone 6 is ok – not Zone 8.).
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The nuances can feel wildly complicated at first, and fine to avoid if you’re a first-time gardener. You can easily go to a local garden shop or nursery (not a big box retailer) and shop – the plants that are there are generally the ones that will thrive. Once you have your first year under your belt, you can experiment with new plants in Zone 7. Because of our location, we’re actually in good shape – your biggest problem is going to be picking a few to start with and not buying the entire store!
ANNUALS
Moderate weather gives us plenty of variety with our annuals. Some of my favorites are marigolds, impatiens, sunflowers, sweet pea, snapdragon, and begonia.
PERENNIALS
Know that your perennials are coming back every year, so snag plants you love (or can supplement with plants you love!). Easy go-to’s: hostas, butterfly weed, Shasta daisy, lavender, peony, and forgetme nots.
EDIBLE PLANTS
This list is NOT short – and because of the moderate weather you can go a few rounds in your garden, from apples to arugula, beets to blackberries, tomatoes to turnips. Your best bet is to spend some time on the Farmer’s Almanac site and see what you enjoy!
TREES AND SHRUBS
This might sound like a broken record and it’s because we are oh-so-lucky to be in this area of the country. Spend some time at some of our local nurseries and then spend some time watching the spot you’d like to plant your new tree in. How much light does it get? What side of your house is it on? When you go to pick out your tree, have this information in mind! When in doubt, ask! The local greenhouses and nurseries are incredibly helpful, educated and excited to help you increase the green in your life.