What a difference a year can make when it comes to small fruits and seed purchases. I have been walking local garden centers and watching what people are buying this year. Seeds, seeds and more seeds. Not so long ago I read that the vegetable and flower seed business was dropping at unprecedented rates as people no longer want to plant seeds. Just yesterday an article in our local paper stated that garden centers are enjoying an upswing in seed and small fruit sales. In fact some garden centers claim they cannot keep enough vegetable seeds in stock to sell. The number of small berry plants that I witnessed going out the door this spring was unusual, to put it mildly.

I have read it's the high fuel prices, concerns over quality and just people wanting to grow their own food. Whatever the reason or reasons, I'm elated. I have a colleague that is 27 years old and has never planted anything before in his life. This year he planted 3 blackberry bushes and put in a vegetable garden. Why is he all of the sudden interested in gardening?  He said he thinks it will be fun and more healthy to grow some of his own food.

Growing your own vegetables and small fruit sounds like it can be complicated if you have never attempted to do so before. Actually, there is so much great information online as well as the garden centers that takes the worry out of planting your first or second garden. Be adventurous and try different vegetables or flowers from seed or small plugs. What's the worst thing that can happen? I believe that it is you have learned something. The best thing! You have great tasting vegetables to eat and you will have saved some money.

It's never too early or late in life to start a small garden. Happy gardening!