How Does the White House Garden Grow? Organically!

For the first time since Eleanor Roosevelt planted a World War II victory garden, there will be a vegetable garden on the White House lawn. Last week, Michelle Obama, along with 26 fifth-graders from Bancroft Elementary school, broke ground on an 1100-square-foot plot that will become a kitchen garden for the White House.

The first lady is interested in educating people about making smart food choices and knowing where their food comes from. Her new home's kitchen garden is a step in that direction, providing fresh, healthy food for the White House and setting a terrific example for the rest of the country.

When it's time to plant, the fifth-graders will return to help. Plans for the garden include growing 55 kinds of vegetables, including lettuce, spinach, broccoli (not a favorite of at least one past president), onions, peas, carrots, and herbs for seasoning. But no beets.

With spring here, why not think about planting your own kitchen garden? Here are some tips for getting ready to grow your own food:

• Start with good soil. Healthy plants need rich, fertile soil. Till the soil to break it up, and mix in compost. You want the soil to be crumbly so that air and water can get through.
  
• Choose a good site. Make sure your garden gets sun for six to eight hours each day, is sheltered from the wind, and is in a well drained area.
  
• Plant cover crops. Crops such as peas and fava beans enrich the soil with nitrogen, which plants need to grow. Next spring, you can till these crops right into the soil; this so-called "green manure" is great for improving the soil.
  
• Choose the right plants. Know what grows well in your climate and when to plant it. Chilly northern states have a later, shorter growing season than warm southern states. Similarly, arid climates require different plants and techniques from soggier regions. To find out how to work with your climate, check out the USDA's Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Some plants that are generally easy to grow include corn, lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, herbs, onions, peas, and tomatoes.
• Try container gardening. If you don't have room for a full-sized garden, try growing vegetables and herbs in terra cotta containers. Even a few herbs grown on a windowsill can add big flavor to your food.