Three (Essential) Considerations for Your Orto
The seed rack at the garden center can be a dangerous place. That seed catalog that arrives in the mail? Don't be fooled - it's just as risky. I know because I've fallen victim to both among countless gardeners who buy hundreds of dollars worth of seeds, only to return the following season asking why their Swiss chard bolted untouched while their single tomato plant couldn't keep up with their family's appetite.
Before I moved to Italy, I co-owned and operated a highly diversified 5-acre farm. The backbone was specialty cut flowers for the wedding industry, but we also produced vegetables, fruits, eggs, pork, duck, grains, and even greenhouse figs. I tended honey bees, compost heaps, and ecosystems with all of my heart. .
Those years taught me that successful gardening isn't about growing everything—it's about growing the right things well.
The Foundation: 3 Rules That Actually Matter
If you're planning your first orto, or wondering why your current garden isn't bringing you joy, these three considerations will save you months of frustration.
1: Grow What You Actually Want to Eat
This sounds obvious, but it's the mistake I see most often. New gardeners get seduced by variety and plant one of everything. The result? Twelve Swiss chard plants for a family that tolerates greens occasionally, while the cherry tomato addicts struggle with a single plant. You're going to tend these crops for months—water them, weed around them, pick bugs off them. When harvest time comes, you want to feel excited to take the crop to your kitchen, not obligated.
Make a list of vegetables your family actually consumes regularly. Then be honest about quantities. If you snack on cherry tomatoes daily, plant six plants plus extras. If you use Swiss chard once a month, one plant is plenty.
2: Understand Your Local Food Landscape
I'm not suggesting you avoid growing tomatoes because your neighbor grows tomatoes. But think strategically about where to invest your garden space and energy.
Where I'm from (Atlantic Canada), onions and carrots are readily available from nearby farms—high quality, affordable, and accessible. Therefore I dedicate only a small section to these crops, usually to try interesting varieties. I devote the bulk of my space to crops I can't easily source locally, like bok choy, ground cherries, or spicy specialty greens.
Take inventory of what's available in your area. Visit farmers markets, check out local producers, and understand what grows well in your climate. Then use your garden space for crops that are either expensive to buy, hard to find, or significantly better when homegrown.
3: Work With Your Site, Not Against It
Your garden's location will determine your success more than any other factor. If your space is in full shade, watermelons and peppers will struggle. If you're in blazing full sun, lettuces and peas will bolt at the first sign of heat.
This doesn't mean you can't push boundaries—shade cloth can help sun-sensitive crops, and reflective mulch can boost light for shade-challenged plants. But you'll be far more successful if you align your crop choices with your site's natural characteristics. Spend time observing your space. Record where the sun hits throughout the day, where water pools after rain, which areas stay consistently moist or dry. Then choose crops that thrive in those conditions rather than fighting against them.
The Details That Make the Difference
Once you've considered the planning fundamentals, think about systems that will make your garden truly productive: efficient water management, consistent weed control, biodiversity support through pollinator-friendly flowers and herbs, and soil building through composting and organic matter.
The Community Connection
Above all, remember that gardening is inherently communal. Share excess vegetables with neighbors, include your cat with a small catnip plant, and make planning a family activity. The best gardens aren't just productive—they're generous, creating abundance that strengthens the entire community.
Begin with these three considerations, choose crops you're excited to harvest, and remember that every experienced gardener was once standing where you are now. The answer is yes, you can grow your own food. But more importantly, you'll discover that the growing is just as rewarding as the harvest.
