Vegetable Gardens 101: everything you need to know to get started!
Category Gardening
Vegetable gardening has become an increasingly popular pastime for many South Africans as it not only provides the leisure of gardening but also the rewards of harvesting your own crops. One of the most fantastic aspects of vegetable gardening is that it does not require gigantic plots of land for a successful garden, in fact, for beginners, smaller is the best route to go. Here we are going to discuss the beginning stages of growing your own vegetable garden and which vegetables will bring in a high yield without much effort.
Planning:
For the best results and most delicious vegetables, it is important to ensure that your vegetable garden is properly planned. Your garden will need to be in an area of the garden which receives at least six hours of sunlight a day, suitable, high-quality soil with adequate drainage, and sheltered from strong winds. There are various designs in vegetable gardens to choose from depending on your available space and personal taste.
Choose your Garden Type:
As there are many different types of gardens to choose from, beginner gardeners are no longer limited to growing their vegetables in rows. In fact, vegetable and herb gardens can successfully be grown in containers should you have a patio or balcony at your disposal, raised garden beds, vertical gardens, and the traditional rows. Some garden designs may not be able to accommodate certain vegetables without special measures, so consider both the area you have to work with and the vegetables you wish to grow.
Prepare your Area:
Whichever design of garden you decide to follow, ensure that it is well prepared. Preparation is key in most activities and this is especially true for gardening. Your garden will need to have proper drainage, nutrient-rich soil, and mulch. Prepare the section of your garden or alternative garden design with all these elements in mind.
Which Plants to Plant:
Different vegetables have specific needs for sunlight, spacing, watering, and sowing time. Planning the vegetables you wish to grow around the season is the first step in selecting your vegetable variety as planting seeds which are meant to be sowed in autumn, during winter, will lead only to failed crops. The next step in selecting your vegetables is to only plant the vegetables and herbs which you enjoy. If no one in your family enjoys cabbages or cauliflower, then there’s no reason to plant it and take up valuable space. Lastly, choose vegetables that are in your skillset to grow. Tomatoes, peas, and spinach are exceptionally easy plants to grow whereas asparagus, artichokes, and carrots require a more practiced hand.
There’s an App for that:
Like with many things today, there’s an app that can help you plan and maintain your vegetable garden. The online Garden Planner from The Old Farmer’s Almanac can be used on a PC, Mac, Android, or iOS system making it readily available no matter what device you prefer. This user-friendly app does all the legwork for you by helping you allocate space to specific plants available in your area. It will also give you weather predictions wherever you are in the world for heavy rains or horrible frosts to help protect your garden and remind you about sowing and harvesting times. Find out about this incredible app here: http://ow.ly/LdZZ30lBkqr
Vegetable gardening welcomes gardeners with yields both high in texture and flavour quality and with the correct planning can bring in large quantities of your favourite greens.
Author: Lillian Rencken
