Page 27 - Organic Gardening 3 Part Series

Beans are also an integral part of a sustainable garden since they're roots "fix"

nitrogen to the soil, keeping it healthy and ready for the next round of crops.

There are two types of beans, those which grow as a shrub and pole beans which

grow in a vine and require a trellis or other support. But there are countless
varieties to choose from and you find it difficult to decide!

Root and stem vegetables include favorites such as carrots, potatoes, and beets.
These versatile vegetables can be grown in the warm areas during the cooler
months of fall and winter, and cooler areas, in the spring and summer.

Choose the right varieties of these vegetables and you can enjoy them over a long
season. They're all relatively easy to grow and are popular staples.

Sweet potatoes are a great choice for warm
climates. They love the heat - they require at least
100 days of warm weather to grow, but they are
easy to grow. Their sprawling vines do take a lot of
space although they are some varieties which grow
as bushes and will take up less space.

Salad vegetables are often the first thing a gardener
plants, and for some, they're the only crops they
need, with perhaps some herbs.

There are many different types of lettuce and they

can all be grown in small spaces. They prefer a
cooler location, so they do well in partial sun. Lettuce needs to be well-watered
but doesn't require fertilizer unless it's
not growing well.

Cucumbers are extremely versatile
because, in addition to being a salad
vegetable, they can also be picked and
pickled. Cucumbers need lots of sun,
moisture, rich soil and the addition of a

well-balanced fertilizer. These deep-