Low-effort gardening can be successful in Florida

A successful garden should not be dependent upon investing large amounts of time and effort. There are many ways substantial food can be produced using efficient and effective methods.

Weeds present one of the most pernicious and persistent threats to a garden’s success as well as your time and effort. There are two ways to approach weeds in a garden: either prevent them or remove them as efficiently as possible. Preventing problems is always a better option than confronting the problem head-on after it has occurred. Weeds can be prevented in many ways that require little or no work. A priority should be given to stopping weeds in the present to prevent weeds in the future. A thick layer of mulch or clean compost is an effective way to prevent most weeds from emerging, and it adds organic matter to the soil. Organic matter in soil helps hold onto water and nutrients. Weed barrier fabric or equivalent is an option for small gardens and can keep weeds suppressed when the garden is not in production. Solarization of soil can further suppress weeds in the upper layer of soil.

Most gardens will need some amount of hand-weeding or hoeing, which can be a source of the wasted time and effort that is trying to be avoided. There are many kinds of tools that are used to remove weeds, and one that is perhaps the most efficient and easiest to use is the stirrup hoe. This can either be in the form of a wheel hoe or on a simple handle. These are very easy to use and essentially glide across the ground or just under the surface and cut off the roots of young weeds. If the hoe blade is kept sharp, it will require even less effort to use.

Raised beds are a great option for small-scale gardens by allowing the gardener to control the variables and not bend over as far when tending the garden. An uncommon yet highly effective way to garden is to plant directly in mature compost piles. A compost pile in full sun will further improve the potential crop yield. Using this growing method allows for the minimal use of irrigation and fertilizers, and reduces weeding. Some crops that are well-suited for growing in a compost pile are white potatoes, most of the squash family of plants and sweet potatoes. As an example, I was able to grow more than 100 Seminole pumpkins from a compost pile, and my total invested time and effort consisted of planting three seeds and harvesting the crop months later.

A vigorous-growing crop will be more competitive than a neglected crop or a crop that is not well adapted to local conditions. It is essential that the most productive, vigorous and pest-resistant varieties are selected before a garden begins. Water is the greatest limiting factor for any crop. To save time and effort, use an irrigation option that is easy to use and effective. Drip lines or drip tape are very efficient, though they can require work to install and maintain. If a garden will be in the same location from season to season, this may be the best choice. Overhead sprinklers are easy to install and use, though they are not as efficient as drip irrigation and can encourage weeds to emerge. An increased planting density can further help prevent weeds and works best with overhead sprinklers. All irrigation options can further reduce time and effort with the use of irrigation timers or moisture sensors.

Time is a thing that is always in short supply, and for many it’s the lack of the time that prevents a garden from being planted. The same is true for the physical effort that a garden might demand. A garden that is producing an abundance of food is something that is not only achievable but can be done with minimal time and effort.

For more information call the Marion County Extension office at 671-8400 or email ironhill@ufl.edu

— Mark Bailey is the Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Extension Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Marion County.