May is one of the best months of the year. The days are long, the weather is beautiful, and if you are a gardener everything is starting to burst forth and blossom. One of the best things you can do for your health this summer is to grow food of your own.

I started down this path because I found the price of organic veggies from the store to be a little out of line with my pocketbook. And I love the experience. It’s fun, good exercise and a sure way to eat more nutritiously.

Even though you might like this idea, it may not be practical. Maybe you don’t have a good site for gardening, or you are too busy with other things. An uncomplicated way to enjoy the garden experience with minimal time investment and little worry about acreage is container gardening. It’s easy to get started and anybody can do it, even those of you who don’t think you have a green thumb.

Tips for small-scale gardening

Try container gardening — All you need is a little balcony or a deck, a few containers, healthy soil, compost and some seedlings, preferably organic. Fortunately, it is easy to grow container gardens organically. There are lots organic fertilizers to choose from and container plants are easier to protect against insects.

Container gardens have another great advantage for those of us in the woods of the Monadnock region, like helping me solve the chronic problem I have every year with critters eating my Swiss chard. 

I love Swiss chard. It’s such an easy leafy green to incorporate into smoothies, salads, egg dishes, casseroles or as a simple tasty stir fry with fresh garlic or ginger or both. So, the last couple of years, I have planted Swiss chard in a container on my deck. It’s growing beautifully and not even a nibble yet.

Try the easy stuff first — Leafy greens, like Swiss chard or kale, are simple to grow in containers. Greens are a wonderful choice because they are loaded with nutrients, high in fiber and protect against diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. And they taste better when you grow them yourself. I notice that greens picked right out of the garden have a sweeter taste.

One of the biggest mistakes a novice gardener can make is to start a garden that is too large, so start small. Why not start with a container of salad greens, plus a basil plant or two and a couple of containers of tomatoes on your deck or patio to see how you like the experience?

Consider raised beds – Raised beds are great for low-maintenance gardening. You can add fresh, weed-free soil, and add healthy compost. The best advantage is that you sidestep the backbreaking work of digging in our New England rocky terrain.

Pick a good spot — You may not need an entire day of sunshine. Leafy greens are the most shade-tolerant, while potatoes and carrots grow well in the sun for half the day. Plants with seeds such as cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and squash do best with full sun.

Crops won’t grow under a tree or in deep shade, so pick an area that’s level, has good levels of sunshine and is sheltered from the worst of the wind. Access to a tap or a hose nearby will cut down trips with a watering can.

Grow easy crops — For the first-time veggie gardener, it makes sense to pick crops that thrive in our northern New England weather. Some good choices include kale, other leafy greens, potatoes, green beans, radish, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, parsnips and summer squash.

Growing a garden is a terrific way to keep track of the seasons and get out in the fresh air and sunshine. You’ll be surprised at how fun it is, especially when August rolls around and you have some delicious tomatoes, basil, and salad greens. All you will need is a bit of olive oil and some fresh mozzarella cheese to create a satisfying meal.

Ruth Clark, author of the best-selling book “Cool the Fire: Curb Inflammation and Balance Hormones,” is a registered dietitian nutritionist with a master’s in public health and over 35 years of experience. She lives in Sharon and her practice is 100 percent virtual. Clark specializes in midlife and older women who are struggling with weight, mood and fatigue to regain their energy and vitality. You can reach her at ruth@ruthrd.com.

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