More than one million tons of vegetables were grown in Victory Gardens during the war. In this victory gardening post I’ll talk about A Victory Garden Guide from Illinois Today one can visit the National Museum of American History and walk through what would have been a Victory Garden during World War II. Nowadays you get into serious trouble for growing a vegetable garden in your front yard, fined, then forced to remove it.. That was one Victory Garden for every seven people! The sprouts, like the parsnips, were ‘best’ when there’d been “a bit of a frost”. At their peak there were more than 20,000,000 Victory Gardens planted across the United States. They also promoted healthier eating habits, as fresh, home-grown vegetables supplied 40 percent of the produce grown in the United States by 1944. Americans were encouraged to produce their own food, planting vegetable gardens in their backyards, churchyards, city parks, and playgrounds. Organically Grown Produce from our Roof Garden Victory Gardens were responsible for bringing Swiss chard and kohlrabi onto the American dinner table because they were easy to grow. Rationing was so severe that householders needed little encouragement. Victory gardens helped win World War II because they allowed the U.S. government to divert scarce tin supplies for military use. By 1944, approximately 40% of all vegetables grown in the U.S. came from Victory Gardens. The campaign was known as Dig for Victory. We liked to pick an ear and eat it raw — we were far from knowing the delights of corn-on-the-cob. In 1943, families bought 315,000 pressure cookers (used in the process of canning), compared to 66,000 in 1942. Victory Gardens are a return to the past in the advent of food shortages, drought, and global warming. Dad even grew corn — pig food some of his neighbouring gardeners sarcily called it — we called it Indian corn. Victory gardens, also called war gardens or food gardens for defense, were vegetable, fruit, and herb gardens planted at private residences and public parks in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Germany during World War I and World War II. One way was to grow their own fruit and vegetables, largely from seed. Chickens were like Gold dust, their real eggs far better than the powdered egg supplied under rationing. Families were encouraged to can their own vegetables to save commercial canned goods for the troops. A lot of people formed their own little communities, sharing and bartering their vegetables thus ensuring a reasonable healthy diet. Near the end of the war there were approximately 20 million Victory Gardens producing 40 percent of vegetables consumed in the United States. That is the weight of 120,000 elephants OR 17,000 army tanks! By 1944 Victory Gardens were responsible for producing 40% of all vegetables grown in the United States. Many different types of vegetables were grown-such as tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, beets, and peas. What vegetables were grown in a victory garden in World War 2? More than one million tons of vegetables were grown in Victory Gardens during the war. a victory garden has any vegetable, fruit and herb from whatever area the garden was … Shortly after the United States was drawn into the Second World War, victory gardens began to reemerge. Victory Gardens could be found all over the country during WWII, from the backyards in Oak Ridge to the rooftops in New York City. I mean the government was encouraging and educating people to grow and preserve food. By 1944 Victory Gardens were responsible for producing 40% of all vegetables grown in the United States. I find the history of Victory Gardens fascinating. Vegetables that could be canned easily or stored for a long time (like root vegetables), were good choices – … So, like many other back gardens, our back garden was turned into a vegetable patch. At their peak there were more than 20,000,000 Victory Gardens planted across the United States. Magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post and Life printed stories about victory gardens, and women's magazines gave instructions on how to grow and preserve garden produce. That was you can grow your own vegetables - with or without soil, while minimizing water use and your impact on the environment. Gardeners were encouraged to grow several different types of vegetables in their Victory Gardens to provide American diets with more minerals and vitamins. Gardeners would can any extra food to last them through the winter months. Real Egg wise, you were originally allowed one egg per fortnight and in summer, up to 4. So they call them vegetable gardens because most homeowners grown vegetables. First promoted during World War I, war gardening, or victory gardens, provided American citizens an opportunity to assist with the war effort.