Growing greens and vegetables on your own is a great way to save money, spend time outdoors, exercise, and eat fresh, delicious food! You can grow vegetables in the garden, but if you don't have a lot of space, you can use containers to put on the porch or terrace. Read on to learn how to start growing vegetables.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Planning the Garden
Step 1. Choose whether to plant the vegetables in the ground, in raised beds or in containers
Each of these options has its advantages and disadvantages, so consider your needs before deciding which method is best for you.
- The soil is suitable if the land in your garden is suitable for growing vegetables and you don't mind kneeling or bent over.
- Raised beds are fine if you don't have good soil and / or suffer from back pain.
- Planting containers are useful if you only intend to plant something or if you don't have a garden to plant your vegetables.
Step 2. Decide what you want to plant in the garden
Make a list of all the vegetables you want to grow. If you are new to horticulture, then it is best to start with some of the following vegetables, which are considered easy to grow:
- Green beans
- Beets
- Carrots
- Cucumbers
- Lettuce
- Jackdaws
- Radishes
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini or yellow zucchini
- Herbs
Step 3. Consider space, time and vegetable consumption
When thinking about the vegetables you want to grow in the garden, consider the following: the space, the time and the amount of vegetables you eat.
- Space. How much space do you have available for your vegetable garden? If it is small, then it is necessary to limit the number of vegetables to be planted.
- Weather. How much time do you want to dedicate to your garden each day? The more plant species you plant, the longer it will take you to cure them.
- Amount of vegetables you consume. How many greens and vegetables do you and / or your family eat? A large garden can produce more vegetables than you can consume each week.
Step 4. Look for a good place
If you want to grow in the ground or just plant some vegetables in containers, you need to find a place that meets the basic criteria for growing your garden.
- Choose a spot where the vegetables will have at least 6-8 hours of full sun exposure every day.
- Choose a spot that you can reach with a hose. If you plan a vegetable garden in containers, then you can simply use a watering can.
- Choose a place that has good soil. If you prefer to plant in containers, just buy good potting soil to fill them with.
Step 5. Design your garden
If you are going to grow vegetables in the ground, make a sketch of where you are going to plant them. The most common way to organize the garden is to establish rows. During this phase, allow about 45 cm of distance between each row so that you can access the plants to de-weed, irrigate and collect them. You can use the sketch as a guide when it is time to plant the vegetable garden.
Step 6. Buy the seeds
Once you have decided what you want to grow, buy the seeds. Be sure to check the instructions on the packaging regarding ideal planting times and other useful information to determine if the vegetables you choose will grow well in the garden you intend to inaugurate.
You could also buy seedlings to insert a little later than the sowing time or if you just want to start with a well-organized garden. However, keep in mind that seedlings are more expensive than seeds
Part 2 of 3: Planting the Vegetable Garden
Step 1. Get the tools
Before starting to plant the garden, it is necessary to collect some basic tools for growing.
- Spade
- Gallows
- Hoe
- Hose for watering
- Wheelbarrow (or bucket, if you plan to plant in containers)
Step 2. Put on gloves and work clothes
You'll likely get dirty planting your own garden, so it's a good idea to use gloves and clothes that you won't mind splashing.
Step 3. Work the soil
If you are planting a vegetable garden in the garden, you will need to use a subsoiler or hoe to work the soil before planting the seeds and / or seedlings. If you resort to raised beds or containers, then you won't have to go through this step. At most, it will be necessary to put the soil in flower beds or containers.
Step 4. Use the spade to dig a long, shallow pit in which to place the seeds
Follow the instructions on the packaging to determine how deep the hole should be and its distance from the others. The rows to grow should be about 45cm apart, but some types of vegetables may require more space.
Step 5. Plant the seeds
Follow the instructions written on the packaging to determine how far to put the seeds. Sometimes, they specify to place more than one seed in each space. To be sure, read the directions carefully.
Step 6. Cover the seeds with soil
After planting the seeds in the soil, cover them with a thin layer of earth, pressing it lightly. Follow the instructions on the packaging to find out how much soil you need to sprinkle on the seeds.
Step 7. Place signs on each row
To keep track of where you planted your seeds, place a few labels at the ends of the rows or in containers. An easy way to mark vegetables is to write their name on popsicle sticks and place them in the ground somewhere in between at the end of each row or inside each container.
Step 8. Water the garden
When you have finished sowing, you will need to water the garden for the first time. If you planted it in the ground, drainage will be slower than with raised beds and containers, so if you grow vegetables following these last two systems, you will need to give more water the first time you water.
Part 3 of 3: Taking Care of the Garden
Step 1. Water the garden if necessary
Vegetables need about 2.5cm of water per week to grow and especially in hot, dry areas this need could double.
- Test the soil every day to see if it needs water by inserting a finger into the soil. If the first 2.5 cm are dry, then you will need to water it.
- Avoid using the hose for watering if the weather forecast brings rain. The garden may receive rainwater for a few days, but check the soil when it has stopped raining to make sure the plants are moist enough.
- Remember that raised beds and containers have faster drainage than vegetable gardens planted in the ground, so you will likely need to water more often if you've created a raised garden in flower beds or are growing vegetables in containers.
Step 2. Remove weeds regularly
Check every other day for weeds in the garden and tear them up as soon as you notice them. Don't wait for them to grow. The sooner you spot a weed, the better. If you wait too long before eliminating it, it is likely to reproduce and spread throughout the garden.
Step 3. Collect the vegetables
Choose the mature ones. Once the vegetables begin to ripen, check them every day so you don't neglect the harvest. Some vegetables can be harvested when they are tender, such as lettuce and zucchini. The garden will continue to produce them even after you have picked them, and many plants will generate even more fruit if you harvest them.
Advice
- Try planting daisies in the garden to discourage rabbit raids.
- Try planting onions, garlic, and chrysanthemums to keep bugs away.
