Backyard Gardens In New Jersey: Land Needed, Costs, What To Plant Now

NEW JERSEY — We are inching close to the time of year when gardeners no longer have to worry about frost in New Jersey, which means you can finally start gardening.

The last spring frost is April 25 in most parts of New Jersey, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

But before you start tearing out the sod in the backyard or filling your balcony with containers of herbs and vegetables, be realistic about how much food you’ll be able to grow.

Estimates vary, but it’s not as much as some eager first-time gardeners may think. Melissa K. Norris blogs about such things from her family’s 15-acre homestead in the North Cascade mountain range. She grows all the beans, potatoes, garlic, tomatoes and sweet corn her family of four can eat in a year in 1,200-square-foot garden plots.

Per person, that translates to 15 to 20 bean plants, 15 to 20 potato plants, 15 garlic bulbs, five tomato plants and 15 corn plants.

How Big Should Your Garden Be?

The average U.S. lawn is about 10,871 square feet, but yard sizes vary by geography, according to Home Advisor. In New Jersey, backyards are about 8,279 square feet, and that’s enough space to grow at least some of the same vegetables as Norris'.

Some people plant gardens because they want control over how their food is grown. Others do it for the therapeutic value of gardening. Still, others plan to plant gardens as a hedge against inflation.

Regarding the latter, it’s a good strategy — if done correctly, according to Iowa State University Extension Service. It points out “The $64 Tomato” is a cautionary tale about how quickly costs for tools and equipment, hoses and water, and pesticides and insecticides can add up, even with a small garden plot.

How Much Time Do You Have?

Gardening experts say it’s important to be realistic about how much work a garden can be.

If your schedule allows for regular weeding, watering and harvesting, backyard gardening could be the ticket to your happy space. If not, you may find yourself ridden with guilt over something you started and don’t have time to finish.

How much time you’ll need to spend depends on the size of your garden, Colin McCrate and Brad Halm wrote for Storey, which publishes practical advice books on everything from homesteading to natural health.

Beginning gardeners with small, 100- or 200-square-foot gardens that produce just enough crops to enjoy at harvest time can require minimal effort of about half an hour a week.

But the bigger the plot, the greater the time commitment.

For example, for an 800-1,500-square-foot garden that can feed a family of four to eight people during the growing season — and enough produce to supplement their diets through most of the winter — requires at least four to six hours a week in maintenance.

You should plan to weed your garden at least once a week. Get them when they’re young and pull out of the ground easily, before they go to seed.

5 Things To Plant Right Now

If you’re still convinced you want a garden, here are five vegetables we can plant right now in New Jersey, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac:

• Basil: Dates to plant seedling Apr 21-May 12
• Bell Peppers: Dates to plant seedling Apr 28-May 12
• Cantaloupes: Dates to plant seedling May 5-19
• Green beans: Dates to plant seed outside Apr 28-May 19
• Okra: Dates to plant seed outside May 5-19
• Sweet potatoes: Dates to plant seedling May 5-19
• Tomatoes: Dates to plant seedling Apr 28-May 19
• Zucchini: Dates to plant seedling May 5-19