(WMS) - Nowadays, it's common knowledge -- your health is directly connected to your diet. "You are what you eat" is more than just an old adage. But it wasn't always that way. As a matter of fact, until relatively recently, doctors and health officials didn't acknowledge the relationship between diet and health.
Today, we know better. Several research studies in recent years have shown that people whose diets are rich in vegetables, fruits and whole grains have lower rates of cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, hypertension and other diseases. With all the interest in health these days, more and more people are finding their backyard garden to be a fine source of sound nutrition and health. Once harvested, the nutrient-value of fruits and vegetables fades with time. Therefore, freshly picked vegetables can be more nutritious than store-bought produce. Quite simply, a garden is just like having your own natural food store in your backyard.
Begin your kitchen garden by grouping produce of similar hardiness and growth time by following the basic guide below. This defines the time window for planting each vegetable and gives you an idea of how long the vegetables will be in the ground. Good luck and get gardening! Information courtesy of "The Gardener's Table: A guide to Natural Vegetable Growing and Cooking" (Ten Speed Press), by Richard Merrill and Joe Ortiz.