Your best-kept dinner-party secret could be just outside your back door. There’s a certain magic to strolling through your perfectly landscaped yard and lavender-lined walkway to pluck a freshly ripened heirloom tomato from your own vegetable garden.
The process of watching a simple seed you’ve planted grow into a beautiful blooming plant sparks a inimitable sense of joy. Not to mention, how impressive it is to lay out an entire dinner spread filled with vibrant fruits and vegetables cultivated a mere couple steps from your stunning outdoor room.
However, producing a bountiful harvest at this caliber takes time and patience. Luckily, master growers like Joel Chesebro, the Head Demonstration Chef for Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove, have developed innovative ways to ensure your garden hits its peak year after year.
Here, the celebrated chef reveals his five secrets for cultivating a plentiful vegetable garden.
Aim for a Small Plot and Big Gains
“The biggest mistake new growers make is planting too much at first—that’s the easy part. It’s sustainable to start small and grow only what you can realistically maintain. Besides, you’ll be amazed at how much production can happen in a relatively modest plot.”
Become a Master Observer
“Planting a few containers first is a great way to get to know the growing habits and pest considerations of different plants. You learn to be observant, to see what’s working, and adapt. Then expand to raised beds, which make it easy to retain control over the quality of the soil.”
Guarantee Early Wins
“Veggies like radishes and squash offer immediate gratification, which is fun in the spring, when you want something right away. Also try planting a couple things with complementary flavors, like heirloom tomatoes and basil. It’s an instant reward in the kitchen.”
Delight With the Wild Cards
“I think it’s important to plant a couple things that are offbeat and out of the ordinary, like green zebra tomatoes, rainbow carrots, purple cauliflower—anything with fun color can turn into a runaway hit when cooking for friends. It’s like growing your own conversation pieces.”
Reap the Life Lessons
“It’s a bit of a cliché to talk about what gardens can teach you, but there’s a tremendous amount of truth to it. Even small plots require you to be subservient to the processes of nature. There’s nothing like a bumper crop of tomatoes to spur a last- minute dinner party.”
Peak Harvest Essentials
Burgon & Ball Love The Glove Gardening Gloves
Shop at burgonandball.com
Norfolk Basket Co. Willow Gathering Basket
Shop at healdsburgshed.com
The Floral Society Edible Flower Seed Kit
Shop at thefloralsociety.com
Williams-Sonoma Copper Watering Can
Shop at Williams Sonoma
This article originally appeared in the March/April issue of VERANDA.
This article originally appeared in the March/April issue of VERANDA.
Subscribe
Credit: VERANDA
Photography by Bob Coscarelli • Styling by Sara Clark
Sarah DiMarco (she/her) is the associate editor at VERANDA, covering all things design, architecture, art, gardens, jewelry, travel, wine and spirits. She also manages social media for the brand.
