Vegetable gardening is becoming more and more popular nowadays. Nothing can compare to the fresh, juicy, and flavorful vegetables that are grown by you in your own garden. They just taste exceptionally good and will eventually make you fall in love with them. Growing vegetables is not actually difficult at all and it comes with many benefits. Well, for many people, vegetable gardening has become a joyful hobby.
If you are a beginner, do not worry. Gardening is not limited and everyone can practice it. The only thing that you will need is love, care, practice, and patience. Eventually, if you keep trying, the result will be tasty.
Vegetable Garden Caring Tips
Vegetable garden preparation consists of several steps. Selection of the site and making a garden plan are essential. After the preparation stage, you will have to choose the vegetables that you want to grow. Then comes the planting and growing stage, which will require a little patience. However, after those stages, you will be rewarded accordingly. Let’s start to overview those steps and see what you will have to do for successful vegetable gardening.
One of the first things to do is to choose the location. Well, actually location is the key to happy plants. Here are a few tips from me. First of all, Sunlight is very important for the growth of plants. Veggies will need 6 to 8 hours of sunlight every day. However, if you have only a shady spot available, there are some that also tolerate shade too.
The second, and also important is having good drainage. Make sure that the drainage is good and your vegetables are not wet all the time. This can cause the rot of the roots. Make sure to avoid the place where plants can come in direct contact with winds. Vegetables can be knocked over by wind easily.
A very important step is also soil preparation. Your plants will need proper nutrition. So, soil that is rich with minerals is essential for their growth. Get your soil tests and find out what it is lacking. After testing the fertility and pH, you will know for sure what kind of fertilizers will be needed. You can help your plants by preparing the soil in advance. I recommend not using the chemicals and trying to rely on compost and organic fertilizers.
You will need to make some research about the plants you plan to grow and know exactly how and when to water them. Small plants and seeds will need more frequent watering. Try to water the plants in the evening when the weather is hot. This way, they will have time to soak it at night. If the weather is cool, give them water in the morning.
Vegetable Garden Size
Vegetables require some space, however, not too much. There are many different types of vegetable gardens, some are located on the ground, on a planting bed, and even in containers. So, do not worry if you are limited in the space, everything is possible.
It is always better to start with the small gardens if you are a beginner. Test it first, see how much vegetables you will get, and then think about expanding the territory. Try to grow enough for your family.
If you want to have a regular size garden, you may want to go with 10X10 feet. This will be a normal size and will fit 3 to 5 vegetables. Planting the raised bed will require much less space. The least space is required by container gardening. In this case, you can get small pots or containers and grow your vegetables there. For example, lettuce, radish, carrot, and some herbs will thrive in the containers too.
A raised garden bed may be a good choice if you want to have a small garden. Approximate measures for raised beds are 4X4 feet. A pallet on the backside of each raised bed will assist the growth of your plants. You will be able to grow a variety of plants in the multi-bed garden. This also enables the simultaneous cultivation of flowers, sunflowers, and vegetables. In general, the size of the area and the number of plants you wish to grow to determine the style and design of a vegetable garden.
Make Thoughtful Choices
The most important and exciting part of vegetable gardening is choosing the plants. For beginners, it is recommended to get the easy to grow vegetables. However, do not forget to consider the weather temperature, humidity, and general environment before making the decisions. I understand the feeling when you want to grow everything, and it is very tempting. However, try to start with just 3 or 5 types of vegetables.
The easiest vegetables to grow in the garden are Zucchini, Peppers, Tomatoes, Carrots, Beets, Lettuce, Green beans, and spinach. I recommend also planting some flowers alongside your vegetables, for example, Marigolds. They will attract pollinators and discourage pests.
It is essential to choose the right time of the year. Most vegetables are supposed to be planted at the beginning of the growing season. For example, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and zucchinis will thrive in the middle of summer. Those plants just love the warm soil. However, Lettuce, peas, broccoli, kale, and root veggies will be happiest in the late spring or early autumn, because, they prefer cooler temperatures.
If you have tall vegetable plants, try to put them on the northern side of the garden. This way, they will not create shade for short plants. Remember, that many vegetables will require to be planted every year. However, if you have “perennials” such as herbs, rhubarb, and asparagus, they will need a permanent location, because they regrow every season.
Conclusion
Vegetable gardens are not only beautiful, but it is also a fun activity. It offers a great source of exercise which gives additional benefits to your health. Taking care of the plants and watching them grow is a great way of relaxation and brings peace of mind. And, in the end, If you give the plants love and care, they will eventually pay back with delicious fresh snacks.
