Growing a Garden in Newfoundland: Part One

It seems that very few people have homesteads here on the island anymore. My grandparents raised horses, chickens, pigs, and sheep during their time as well as growing potatoes and carrots in the garden. Being self-sufficient and hard-working was key to survival in Newfoundland. You had knowledge of the land, plants, animals, and your family worked together to survive and thrive within your community.

My parents raised rabbits for a while in the 90s but no other animals before or after. They had a greenhouse and garden beds where they grew beets, tomatoes, cucumber, broccoli, cauliflower, etc but the yield wasn’t always worth the time and labor.

I’ve wanted to start my own garden for a few years now and I’m incredibly excited that it’s finally happening. Do I know what I’m doing? Barely. Do I have full faith and confidence that I will figure it out anyway? Absolutely! Nothing beats a homemade jar of beets so I’m determined to give it a go and see what I can grow.

What I’m Growing in the Garden

My garden begins with a gift of three Alpine Strawberry plants during Spring 2023. I had zero knowledge at the time of how to grow them but with some research I figured it out. By the end of the first year those three strawberry plants grew to seven plants. Strawberries are great because they’ll keep growing and producing new baby plants each year, and you can make your own jams and jellies with them.

Next up was a chive plant my father gave me in Summer 2023. It was forgotten and neglected in a pot for quite some time behind my folk’s house. He gave it to me to revive and add to the garden. I repotted the chive plant and saw some new growth before the winter season which was reassuring. I’m hoping for more growth this coming year and to see this little plant thrive.

I was teaching my child how things grow during Summer 2023 and we tossed a potato sprout in a pot, watered it, and watched it grow over the weeks. During the height of summer we totally forgot about the potato plant and by fall it was looking completely dead and miserable. Like, it was the saddest, deadest looking plant ever. Thinking I’ve failed at growing potatoes I decided to dump out the pot. WHOA! That dead and miserable looking potato plant had 8 potatoes in the soil! So with that knowledge I know for sure that potatoes can grow here with very minimal attention or effort and there’s certainly no rush to harvest them.

The following is a list of seeds I’ll be planting:

• Alaska Peas (cold resistant, won’t disease or wilt)
• Romano Bush Beans (heavy yields)
• Contender Bush Beans (mildew tolerant, heavy yield, early producing)
• Tenderlong Imperator Carrots (long, easy to grow)
• Danvers Carrots (heavy yields)
• Spaghetti Squash (delicious!)
• Jack O’ Lantern Pumpkins (can start early indoors, pumpkin carving)
• Viking Asparagus (hardy, productive, perennial)
• Cherry Belle Radish (25 days to grow, resistant to pithiness)
• Dark Green Zucchini (vigorous, easy to grow)
• Giant Noble Spinach (bolt-resistant)
• Kornett Beets (productive, easy to grow)
• Alpine Strawberries (everbearing, tasty)
• Southport Scallions (early sprouting)
• Mint (natural bug repellent)
• Rosemary (natural bug repellent)
• Chives (pest control)
• Sage (great for pollinators)
• Champion Moss Curled Parsley (attracts beneficial insects)
• Cilantro (attracts beneficial insects, excellent companion plant)
• Wildflowers Perennial Mix (attract beneficial insects)
• Jewel Mix Nasturtiums (attracts beneficial insects)

So with hundreds of seeds now in my care, it’s time to figure out when, where, and how to plant them. Certain herbs and flowers grow and protect certain vegetables, whereas others absolutely detest being near each other. Root vegetables should be planted apart so they don’t fight for ground space. Strawberries need space to send off their daughter shoots for new plant growth.

Every plant has it’s own soil, water, space, and sunlight requirements to grow best and it’s important to research and learn the individual needs of each. Do I know it all? Heck no, but I think I’ve learned enough to get started anyway and give it my best shot.

Stay tuned for Growing a Garden in Newfoundland: Part Two if you’re interested in my gardening shenanigans and would like to know how I started planting the seeds. Please share any suggestions or advice in the comments below and if you’re a Newfoundlander with your own garden or homestead on the go I’d love to connect with you for a chat and learn a thing or two.

Until next time…