As spring rolls around, people all over the Garden State will begin planting. Whether it’s flowers, vegetables, or fruits, plants are sprouting everywhere. NJ has a long history of agriculture whether it’s your job, or in your backyard, people have been farming in the Garden State for decades. New Jersey gained their name the Garden state for their long history in the field of agriculture. 

When did it all begin? Farming in NJ began long before it became a state, starting with the Native Americans. They mostly grew corn, beans, and squash. When European settlers arrived they began to cultivate soil in the mid 1600 hundreds. They brought crops like cabbage, lettuce, carrots, radishes, parsnips, beets, spinach, and onions. They also introduced new species of fruits, trees, and different varieties of flowers. In the late 18th century the Irish brought over white potatoes. Today NJ’s agriculture field is booming and is currently ranked fifth in the nation. 

Today’s Agenda & Statistics Today NJ is ranked fifth in nursery sales (296 million) and third in potted flower sales(77.5 million). Next is the vegetable industry which brings in 295 million along with fruits and berries which comes in at 200 million. While NJ doesn’t rank very highly overall it has certain categories where it ranks very highly amongst the nation. NJ is a top 10 producer in blueberries, cranberries, peaches, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, spinach, squash, as well as in floriculture. In 2022 the state’s nearly 10,000 farms made over $1.5 billion dollars in revenue. Along with that the state’s 10,000 farms cover nearly 710,000 acres of land where 250,000 of them are permanently marked and preserved for agriculture which is a massive milestone for NJ and conservation of the garden state. 

The nations backyard farmers: As stated before, NJ is fifth in nursery sales and third in potted plant sales. This is good news, people are planting more and more in local areas where other plants and farms may not be as abundant. The most popular plants planted in NJ bayards consist of annual petunias, roses, tulips, bell peppers, tomatoes, beans and cucumbers. This creates diverse environments in backyards all over the state even though it may seem as if you’re just feeding those pesky squirrels. 

So with all that being said, Here are some tips to start your own farm 

• Start Small 
• Choose crops good for your climate (listed above)
• Avoid any chemicals – All natural is always better
• Pick when crops are ripe don’t wait 
• Use well draining soil and raised beds(2-3 inches)
• Check plants regularly 
• FInally, Share your bounty with others