A vegetable garden is a fun and satisfying spring-summer activity. Design a vegetable garden to grow the vegetables your family prefers then find the best corner of your yard (or patio) to plant them. With a little time and care, your patch of land will be filled with delicious products. Here's how to get started.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Designing the Garden
Step 1. Decide what you want to cultivate
What are the vegetables you love the most? Think about what you would like to have on your plate and plan your garden accordingly. Most vegetables grow well in any climate, but it's a good idea to figure out what works best in the local climate before deciding what to plant.
- Plan on planting staggered vegetables, so you'll have all summer instead of a lot at the same time.
- Some plants don't grow as well in certain places as they would in the areas they come from. Find out if the vegetables you want to grow require a cold wave to start, or if they will wilt and then die when temperatures drop. If you live in a climate that has very short summers or in an area with scarcity of water, for example, you will need to pay particular attention to the choice of plants.
- Choose plants that want similar care and soil, it will be easier to manage the garden.
Step 2. Choose the area to create the garden
Most vegetables need a strong sun so find the sunniest part and put it in the garden. Avoid areas where the house or trees can shade during the day. Choose a corner that has good drainage and fertile soil.
- To determine if your chosen area has good drainage, check it after a thunderstorm. If puddles form, the area is probably not good for growing a vegetable garden. If the water is absorbed by the soil then it is perfect.
- Choose an area that is relatively flat and without too many roots or stones. This will make it easier to loosen the soil and prepare it to house the plants.
- If the soil appears to be of poor quality or does not have good drainage, you can still create a vegetable garden by making raised terraces in which to plant.
- Some vegetables also grow well in large pots. Peppers, tomatoes and potatoes for example will also produce in pots set up on the patio or fire escape if you don't have a garden.
Step 3. Design your garden
The time has come to get an idea of the space needed and which plants to put in the garden. Different types of vegetables need different amounts of space so study how much you will need for the plants you want to grow.
- You also need to know how much space to leave between the seeds, how much the growing plants will need. All varieties of squash and courgettes end up taking up a lot of space and have a large production, while potatoes, carrots and lettuce remain fairly confined.
- Gardens are often planted in rows, which is useful for better identifying which plants are there.
- It is useful to provide extra space between the rows to allow you to walk when you need to weed, fertilize, water and of course also harvest.
Method 2 of 3: Prepare to Plant
Step 1. Buy plants and seeds
Choose whether to start your garden starting from seeds or from sprouted seedlings and make your purchases in a store or online. You will also need to know what tools you will need. Much of the work can be done with simple tools but if you are planning a large garden, it will be easier to buy a hoe. Here's what you'll need:
- Seeds and plants. Many garden centers have a great selection of both and the staff can help you choose the varieties. If you buy plants, do it a maximum of two days before planting them.
- Fertilizer. A good natural fertilizer will give your plants an edge. Buy blood meal, bone meal, or a fertilizer mix. Compost also performs well.
- Mulch the surface. Vegetables must be protected from wind and violent rain as soon as they are planted. Determine if a top layer or mulch will suffice. You could also use hay for this.
Step 2. Subsoiler (rotary hoe)
This machine is used to break sod, allowing you to fertilize and dig holes for planting. In smaller gardens you can simply use a spade and elbow grease, but if yours is more than 10 m² then you should think about buying or renting a mechanical subsoiler.
- Shovel, spade and rake. They are used to dig holes and move the soil around plants, they are essential tools in the garden.
- Meter or line. Since plants need to be placed at different depths, it is helpful to have something on hand to measure holes.
- One hose with graduated sprinkler. It is important to be able to change the water pressure when watering.
- Networks. Rabbits, squirrels, deer and other animals may nibble on vegetables so it is helpful to build a fence around the garden.
Step 3. Prepare the ground
Mark the corners you want to allocate to the garden with stones. Remove roots, sticks, weeds, and other debris. Use the tiller, spade or rake to cut the earth into small pieces, working to a depth of about 25 cm. depending on what you plant.
- If you fertilize, use the rake. Make sure you distribute everything evenly.
- Also remove the largest stones that may be underground. They could obstruct the roots of your plants, this is worth the time it takes.
- If you are concerned about the quality of the soil in your garden, buy a kit to test and find out how many nutrients and organic matter it contains as well as what its pH is. These are the factors that will affect the yield and nutritional value of your vegetables. Once the potting soil is tested, you can add what is missing.
Method 3 of 3: Growing vegetables
Step 1. Dig the holes and plant the seeds or seedlings
Use the spade to dig the holes to the required depth. Put some fertilizer in the bottom of each hole, then settle the seeds or lay the seedlings. Cover the holes with compost and a layer of mulch if necessary.
Step 2. Water
As the vegetables root in the first few weeks, you will need to keep the soil moist. Use the sprinkler's mist function every day.
- Check often. If the soil looks dry, spray again.
- Avoid watering in the evening. If the water stagnates overnight without being absorbed or evaporating, it could promote the growth of fungi.
Step 3. Remove the weeds
As the vegetables sprout, you may notice seedlings that take advantage of fertilization and irrigation. Pick up the weed near the roots and pull gently then throw it away so the seeds don't take root. Be careful not to remove the newly hatched vegetables.
Step 4. Keep pets away
Before a plant starts producing, you should place a barrier to block the passage for rabbits or squirrels. A little chicken netting is usually ideal. If there are deer where you live, you will need to use something larger.
Step 5. Care for the vegetables according to their needs
Give the plants the right amount of water, prune and fertilize accordingly. Continue to weed frequently, following growth over the summer. When it is time to harvest, choose only the ripe vegetables and give the others time to grow further.
Advice
- Keep your garden clean to give it a neat appearance and help plants develop.
- For better growth and to contain weeds, mulch the entire area.
- For better security, fence in the garden.
