Vegetable gardening has recently enjoyed renewed popularity. This is due to multiple factors such as the desire for organic produce, concerns over the commercial food supply, and economic reasons. Growing your own vegetables is usually cheaper than buying them in the store; and the vegetables arrive to your table fresher and with more flavor. Growing vegetables in the home garden is no different than growing any other type of plant. Provided that they receive the proper care they will produce a bountiful harvest for you.
The Size of the Garden
The first consideration in choosing to grow vegetables at home is the size of the garden that you desire; this will dictate the location of your garden. In order to grow vegetables successfully, you need to have good drainage, good airflow, and deep, rich soil. The site that you choose must also have plenty of direct sunlight. You also want to have an area that will be as free from deer, rabbits, raccoons and other wildlife as possible. You may have to consider installing a fence, or perhaps other deterrents to keep uninvited animal guests from creating damage in your garden.
Preparing the Soil
Prior to planting, the soil must be cultivated and organic materials applied. The soil must be broken up and the organic matter incorporated by cultivating or tilling. Tilling the soil adequately also helps to control weeds. For very small garden plots or raised beds, the soil can be worked by turning with a spade fork. Organic matter, such as mulch, releases nitrogen and other much needed nutrients to the soil. The best type of organic batter to add to the soil is compost. While the amount and type of fertilizer that must be added to the soil is variable, leafy vegetables grow better with more Nitrogen and root crops such as potatoes grow better with more potash. Tomatoes and beans can grow with lesser amounts of fertilizer, while onions, celery, and potatoes need a greater amount.
Arranging the Garden
The garden arrangement is a vital part of your gardening plan. You ideally want tall growing plants toward the back of the garden and shorter growing plants toward the front. This arrangement allows maximal amounts of sunlight to all the plants within the garden. When you do finally begin the process of planting, you want to make sure that you are planting each variety of vegetable at the right time of year. Persons who are very anxious to get a head start on their planting efforts, may start plants in a hotbed and then transplant them to the garden at the correct planting time. When you have planted, make sure that you give the plants adequate water, plants vary in their water requirements, however about 1 inch of water per week is a good average.
Controlling Weeds and Pests
Controlling weeds in vegetable gardens is an important part of the gardening plan. Weeds rob the water and nutrients that the vegetable plants need. Weeds also attract disease and pests to the garden. Weeds are best controlled by mulching or cultivation. Protection against disease and pests can be controlled by choosing disease resistant varieties or by chemical control.
Many people enjoy vegetable gardening, because they can actually judge the merits of their labor by enjoying the vegetables at the table. It is not that expensive to begin vegetable gardening, you can start small and add space and vegetable varieties as your budget permits. You will enjoy the fruits of your labor if you prepare your garden properly and continue the care through consistent and regular maintenance.
