Imagine slicing into a juicy tomato, crisp head of lettuce, or tender summer squash to treat yourself to a fresh summer meal. Thankfully, you didn’t have to travel far to retrieve these delicious ingredients because they came from your own backyard!
Maintaining a garden is a great way to enjoy ripe vegetables that taste even better because they were grown from the fruits of your labor (literally!). Keep reading to learn some tips that will help you get started and have a successful harvest.
Determining the Right Size and Location
Before you begin, you will need to develop a plan for what your garden is going to look like and where you are going to put it.
First, it is important to choose a spot with plenty of direct sunlight, as most of your plants will need 6-8 hours of it per day.
Next, you will want to consider access to and movement of water. Your garden should be close enough to a water source that you can easily tend to the plants as necessary. However, it is also critical to have proper soil drainage in your plot to avoid pooling, which may cause rotted roots and lead to weaker plants.
Finally, you will need to determine the proper size of your garden based on your experience level and the number of plants you are intending to grow. For beginners, a small plot of about 6×6 feet with up to five types of vegetables is ideal. As you become more comfortable with the process, you can expand your garden to include more variety and produce a larger harvest.
Choosing Your Veggies
After finding the right location and size for your vegetable garden, you will then need to decide what types of vegetables you would like to grow.
When choosing your plants, it is important to consider the climate in your area. Not all plants thrive in the same environment or season, so it is best to do your research before you get started. Your local garden (*clears throat*) center is a great resource for learning more about what types of vegetables would be best suited for your garden.
Furthermore, you should pick vegetables that you and your family will enjoy in an amount you can reasonably consume. Once your plants have reached their peak, you will want to make use of them as soon as possible. This means eating, preserving, and/or sharing them with friends and family.
A few of the easiest vegetables to grow are lettuce, green beans, tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, and carrots. Once you master some of the basics, you may consider adding more challenging plants to your garden.
Maintaining Your Garden
After you have your vegetables planted, you will have to be committed to the upkeep.
Regularly weeding and watering your garden is a critical practice to keep your plants in optimal shape to produce the best vegetables possible. Water is key for healthy plant growth and weeds tend to steal light, water, and nutrients from other plants around them.
Keeping pests at bay is also a must. A moderate amount is not harmful, however, if you are not proactive, too many may devastate your plants. Depending on the critter, you may want to hand-pick them off, set traps, or use oils and pesticides sparingly if necessary.
Nourishing your soil will similarly help your plants grow strong and healthy. Using fertilizer as needed and adding organic matter to your garden will keep your soil rich and soft.
Growing your own vegetable garden can be a challenging, yet very rewarding project. If you’d like more tips, stop by our greenhouse and let us help you get started!
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