Victory garden, Fort Stevens, Oregon, 1944

The kind of season we have would change the date of planting. In raising vegetables, as in everything else, one should use one's common (or garden variety of) sense. A good rule is to wait until the ground has warmed up a bit. Never try to work in soil wet enough to be sticky, or muddy; wait until it dries enough to crumble readily. Gardening is not a rule of thumb business. Each gardener must bring his plants up in his own way in the light of his own experience and in accordance with the conditions of his own garden. A garden lover who has a bit of land will speedily learn if his eyes and his mind, as well as his hands, are always busy, no matter how meager his knowledge at the beginning.

Victory garden, Fort Stevens, Oregon, 1944 (ARC Identifier: 299689 National Archive and Records Administration's Pacific Alaska Region, 6125 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA.)

Frequent watering of the Victory Garden is necessary during the early stages of growth

The planting scheme can be altered to suit your individual taste. For instance, peas and cabbage are included because almost everybody likes to have them fresh from their garden; but they occupy more space in proportion to their value than beets and carrots. Therefore a small garden could be made more profitable by omitting them altogether, or cutting them down in amount and increasing the amount of carrots, beets, and turnips planted; or any of the vegetables mentioned which may not be in favor with the family can be left out.

ARC Identifier: 196478 Frequent watering of the Victory Garden is necessary during the early stages of growth. , ca. 02/1943 Franklin D. Roosevelt Library (NLFDR), 4079 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, NY

"You can use the land you have to grow the food you need"

After you have marked all of your rows, the next step is opening the furrow. (A furrow is a shallow trench.) That is done with the hoe. (Best and quickest with a wheel hoe. Ed.) After the furrow is opened, it is necessary that the seed be sown and immediately covered before the soil has dried In covering the seeds the soil must be firmly pressed down with the foot. This is important.

In buying seed it is best to go to some well-established seed house, or, if that can't be done, to order by mail rather than to take needless chances. With most kinds of seeds a package is sufficient for a twenty-foot row.

Begin to break up the hard surface of the soil between the plants soon after they appear, using a hand cultivator or hoe, and keep it loose throughout the season. This kills weeds; it lets in air to the plant roots and keeps the moisture in the ground.

By constantly stirring the top soil after your plants appear, the necessity of watering can be largely avoided except in very dry weather. An occasional soaking of the soil is better than frequent sprinkling. Water your garden either very early in the morning or after sundown. It is better not to water when the sun is shining hot.

"You can use the land you have to grow the food you need" is one of the "Make America Strong" Poster Set (Poster number 7, 1941 - 1945). Created by the Office for Emergency Management, War Information Domestic Operations Branch. ARC Identifier: 514945 National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD

Secretary Plowing Boston Commons to promote Victory Gardens Program, April 11, 1944

After your garden has been well dug, it must be fertilized before any planting is done. In order to produce large and well-grown crops it is often necessary to fertilize before each planting. Very good prepared fertilizers can be bought at seed stores, but horse or cow manure is much better, as it lightens the soil in addition to supplying plant food. Use street sweepings if you can get them.

The manure should be well dug into the ground, at least to the full depth of the top soil. The ground should then be thoroughly raked, as seeds must be sown in soil which has been finely powdered.

Lay out the garden, keeping the rows straight with a line. Straight rows are practically a necessity, not only for easier culture but for economy in space.

Secretary Plowing Boston Commons to promote Victory Gardens Program, April 11, 1944 (Image ID 7769(161) Signal Corp, US Army Photo Courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Digital Archives)

"Your Vicory Garden Counts More Than Ever!"

As we will likely have to send to Europe in coming years as much or even more food than we did last year, there is only one way to avoid a shortage among our own people, that is by raising a great deal more than usual. To do this we must plant every bit of available land. (Of course, we can't; the owners won't let us. Ed.) If you have a back yard, you can do your part and help the world and yourself by raising some of the food you eat. The more you raise the less you will have to buy, and the more there will be left for some of your fellow countrymen who have not an inch of ground on which to raise anything.

ARC Identifier: 516284 "YOUR VICTORY GARDEN COUNTS MORE THAN EVER!" , 1941 - 1945 Still Picture Records LICON, Special Media Archives Services Division (NWCS-S), National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD

"Three Acres and Liberty" by Bolton Hall

There is so much conventional wisdom to be learned from Bolton Hall. Three Acres and Liberty was published a hundred years ago, and yet it seems that it was written for today. Its an utterly humbling read. In the foreword Bolton Hall describes the aquaistion of resources in the 1920's, whether it be the exploitation of forest, reclamation of lands, or the utilization of swamps, its all quite blaze'. Looking for a guide to growing your own victory garden, well than look not farther... dan-an-da. Check out chapter 12 on cold-pack canning of fruits and vegtables, simple enough for the average 12 year old .

We are not tied to a desk or to a bench; we stay there
only because we think we are tied.

In Montana I had a horse, which was hobbled every night
to keep him from wandering; that is, straps joined by
a short chain were put around his forefeet, so that he
could only hop. The hobbles were taken off in the
morning, but he would still hop until he saw his
mate trotting off.

This book is intended to show how any one can trot off
if he will.

~Bolton Hall, Three Acres and Liberty

"Don't Waste Food While Others Starve"

If there is a vacant lot in your neighborhood, see if you cannot get the use of it for yourself and your neighbors, and raise your own vegetables. An hour a day spent in this way will not only increase wealth and help your family, but will help you personally by adding to your strength and well-being and making you appreciate the Eden joy of gardening. An hour in the open air is worth more than a dozen expensive prescriptions by an expensive doctor.

The only tools necessary for a small garden are a spade or spading fork, a hoe, a rake, and a line or piece of cord.

First of all, clear the ground of all rubbish, sticks, stones, bottles, etc. (especially whisky bottles).

Choose the sunniest spot in the yard for your garden.

Dig up the soil to a depth of 6 to 10 inches, using a spade or spading fork.

(Deeper for parsnips and some other roots. Ed.) Break up all the lumps with the spade or fork. If you live in a section where your neighbors have gardens, you might club together to hire a teamster for a day to do the plowing and harrowing for you all, thus saving a large amount of labor.

"Don't Waste Food While Others Starve" (ca. 1917-1919)United States Food Administration Poster - Contributor: L.C. Clinker. Artist: M.J. Dwyer. Source: National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD (NWDNS-4-P-145)