Survival Gardening

Survival gardening focuses on self-sufficiency, high yield, and low input. A well-planned garden can supply much of your vegetables year-round.

Benefits of growing your own

• • Food independence: no need for stores
• • Freshness and nutrition: straight from the bed
• • Savings: low production cost vs buying
• • Skills: learning and practice for the future

Priority crops (high yield/space)

• • Potatoes: 3-5 kg/m², carb source, easy
• • Bush beans: 2-3 kg/m², protein, fixes nitrogen
• • Tomatoes: 4-8 kg/m², vitamin C, versatile
• • Cabbage: 3-4 kg/m², long storage
• • Carrots: 2-3 kg/m², long storage, vitamin A
• • Pumpkin/squash: 5-15 kg per plant, long keeping
• • Lettuce, spinach: fast, vitamin-rich, succession sowing

Soil and fertilization

• • Soil pH: most vegetables like 6.0-7.0
• • Compost: make your own from kitchen/garden waste
• • Manure: well composted, added in autumn
• • Crop rotation: change beds yearly to avoid depletion

Watering

• • Rainwater harvesting: barrels under gutters (1 mm rain = 1 L/m² roof)
• • Mulching: mulch layer (straw, wood chips) cuts evaporation by 50-70%
• • Watering: morning or evening, deep and infrequent (better roots)

Seeds and propagation

• • Choose open-pollinated varieties (not hybrids) to save seed
• • Store seeds dry, dark, cool (lasts 2-5 years)
• • Test germination of old seed before the season

Pest management

• • Companion plants: e.g., dill, garlic repel pests
• • Hand-picking: beetles, slugs – effective in small gardens
• • Beneficial insects: attract ladybugs, lacewings
• • Protective nets: against birds and larger pests

Season extension

• • Polytunnels: start spring 2-4 weeks earlier
• • Cold frames: grow lettuce, spinach in winter
• • Succession planting: sow every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest

Preserving the harvest

• • Cellar: root crops (carrot, potato) 4-6 months
• • Canning: tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers in jars
• • Drying: herbs, tomatoes, peppers
• • Freezing: if a freezer is available