Vegetable gardening is not just for people with a green thumb. Anyone can start their very own vegetable gardening especially now that gardening poses so many benefits. However, like all the things in our life, you must plan intensely ahead before you commit. You don’t want to end up with wasted effort and resources.
As a beginner, you will learn all the basics of vegetable gardening in this article such as tips and what vegetables are easy to grow. Continue reading to learn more.
Planning a Vegetable Garden
Planning a garden entails the necessary tools and a determined mindset. You make sure that you have a positive outlook on this project and we’ll take care of the checklist of the things you should consider when starting a vegetable garden. Here you go.
Location
Think of it as looking for the best location for your house. Finding the most strategic place for your vegetable garden is a big factor in its success. You should consider the exposure to sunlight, slope, fencing, and the water source.
Garden Orientation and bed design
Do you want to use a raised bed or rows? Which direction should it face? Orientation and design will determine how effective and efficient your garden will be in the long run.
Planting
When you get your seeds, you can’t just place that anywhere. Planting your vegetables requires a plan because each plant has its own shape, height, water, and light requirements. It helps to research the kind of plant you plan to put in your garden so you’ll know how to grow and take care of it.
Easy Vegetables to Grow
Speaking of research, fret no more. Here’s a list of some of the easiest vegetables to grow. They might be considered the easiest but these are also the most essential ones. Also, some of these vegetables make the perfect salad! Imagine not having to spend money on store-bought and most probably chemically-exposed vegetables.
Leafy Vegetables
These include lettuce and other salad greens. Lettuce grows very quickly, does not take up too much space and easy to harvest when ready. If you have really limited space, you can even grow them on containers!
Cucumbers
With enough sunlight and warm temperatures, cucumbers can strive easily. Plus, with regular water, they will definitely grow like weeds! Also, do not forget about the support for vine cucumbers.
Tomatoes
This is probably the most plated vegetable in any garden around the world. Tomatoes can be grown in containers or baskets. Basically, they grow anywhere with the right amount of sun, water, and support.
Green Beans
Green beans also called as string beans are so easy to grow that they are a staple in vegetable gardens anywhere. They have different varieties to choose from which makes planning them even more fun. Most beans prefer a garden condition with full sun exposure and a well-drained soil.
Potatoes
Last but definitely not the least on our list is potatoes. Potatoes are root vegetables that strive only in direct sunlight. They tend to grow between one to two feet tall and between one to two feet wide.
Gardening Tips
When gardening, there are a few tips and tricks that you should keep in mind. Some of them are the following:
- Always start with the easiest vegetables to grow. Consider this your training ground.
- The most successful gardens are exposed to at least five hours of full sun. Sometimes, even 8 hours is ideal. Know which vegetables need excessive lighting and those that don’t.
- The kind of soil you have is a VIP which means a “Very Important Part” of your garden. Conduct a soil test to know about the fertility and pH levels.
- There is no need to go all out at first. Stick to small plot on your first year and grow from there. Pun intended.
- Bees and butterflies are your friends! Crop pollination should be boosted and their presence actually indicates that your crops are healthy.
- Know when to water and how much water your plants actually need. Watering is a basic thing for gardening but it is so easy to overdo and underdo it.
- Check the weather patterns in your location. It may be one of the reasons why nothing is growing in the garden.
Final Thoughts on Gardening
At the end of the day, you will need to keep an open and patient mind. If you’re lucky, everything will go smoothly on your first try. On the other hand, if you’re unlucky, no need to feel down. Some people consider gardening as a hobby, a passion, and even a job. They, too, had some hard beginnings but with dedication and will to succeed, they did it. Lastly, it is very important to truly like what you are doing because if you’re not 100% on it, forget about getting significant results.
Ezra is a recent graduate from Mindanao State University with a degree of Entrepreneurial Marketing. Soon after she graduated, began researching and doing copywriting work for AllianceWood.com. The topics she mainly writes are about real estate, home improvements and interior design.
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