A vegetable patch at home can be really rewarding, especially if you have some space and are looking to save some money on groceries. You must be willing to put in the work, but it’s definitely worth it. For those looking to go organic and get their hands a bit dirty, this article will help start your vegetable patch.
Location
When starting your vegetable patch, the most important thing is picking the right location as it helps yield the best crop and yield. Most vegetables need a lot of sunlight to grow well, at least six to eight hours a day, although there are a few which grow better in the shade. The second thing to look out for is the richness of the soil. So you need to add a lot of organic material to the ground and mix it well to improve the soil’s nutrient richness.
It is advisable to start with a small vegetable patch that you can manage efficiently as a beginner. It is always better to be rewarded by a small patch than to be frustrated by a big patch. Start small and plant just enough. With experience and knowledge, you can then increase the plot size.
Garden Design
It is vital to have a garden design from the onset to guide you. This will give you an idea of what your garden will look like and make it easier for you when planting. You should make sure there are paths in the garden to make it easy to access all the veggies.
Prepare The Ground
Before you can plant, you will need to prepare the ground. This involves clearing the grass, getting rid of weeds, and making beds. When you are done with these, let the soil rest for a couple of weeks, and then if any annual seeds germinate, you can hoe them off before you plant.
Deal With Weeds
There are perennial weeds and annual weeds. Do well to deal with both, but if you have already prepared the ground properly, you should only have annual weeds, such as groundsel to deal with. Weeds will stunt your vegetables’ growth as they compete with the plants for available soil nutrients, water, and sunlight.
Watering
To aid the growth of your vegetables, you will need to water them adequately. Frequent watering during the early stages of germination or transplantation is a huge boost. The prevailing weather conditions and the composition of the soil will be significant factors to consider when watering. It is advisable to heavily water your garden every few days rather than sprinkle it every day. Heavy watering allows the water to go deeper into the soil, which encourages the roots to grow deeper. Shop around and try different plant foods too.
Choosing What To Plant
You’d be wise to choose the vegetables to plant based on your family’s preferences and how quickly they grow. You can also find out which vegetables grow well in your area. Some plants grow well in a lot of sunlight and rich soil, and others grow well in shade and good soil. So you have to put all these into consideration when choosing which vegetables to plant.