Ask a Farmer
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A: Absolutely! As local food grows in popularity, there is a increasing interest in that most local of all foods - the food you grow yourself. Asheville's climate offers milder summer temperatures and a longer growing season than much of the country, allowing us to grow longer, slow growing crops as well as some heat-intolerant northern species.
When picking appropriate plants, it is always handy to know your hardiness zone, since this information is usually included in plant descriptions. My favorite easy to grow vegetables include the old staples of tomatoes (reasonably easy to grow, hundreds, if not thousands, of varieties, and there's just something about that first tomato sandwich of the year) and peppers (if you have a "hot tooth" and a dry area). '
I'm a huge fan of greens, especially in spring and fall. We sow a mixture of mustard greens, kale, and collards early in the fall and have fresh salads most of the winter/spring. A good snow/freeze will kill off the tops, I'll pronounce them dead, and within just a few days they'll be springing back up with a fresh crop.
As much as I enjoy fresh vegetables, though, fruit is the basis of my growing. Well-selected, well-cared-for fruits can last for many years, reducing the inherent risk involved in starting from scratch each year. Western North Carolina is particularly well adapted to blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, berries that are native to this area. In a nutshell, blueberry production in this area is of the "high-bush" type (with dozens of good varieties available), and the things to watch for are well-drained soil (blueberries can't handle standing in water), low soil pH (4.8 or lower), and multiple varieties (they are technically self-fertile, but produce much better if cross-pollinated).
If blackberries are your berry of choice, pick an area of full sun and well-drained soil. Perhaps my favorites are our raspberries, perhaps because we're on the very southern tip of good raspberry production. New "everbearing" varieties can produce a steady supply of fruit beginning in June and lasting until first frost (October or even November). All three berries will benefit from mulch and approximately weekly irrigation.
Whatever your choices, I always encourage new growers to adapt your needs to your microclimate, rather than trying to modify your environment to match your needs.
Have a gardening, growing or food question? Submit your question to one of our Asheville Farmers.
Photo courtesy of Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project.
Interactive Foodtopia |
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