Growing your own vegetables is a great way to save money, spend time outdoors, exercise and eat fresh and delicious vegetables! You can grow your own vegetables in your backyard, but if you don't have enough space, you can also grow vegetables in containers stored on your front porch or deck. Read this article to learn how to grow your own vegetables.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Planning Your Garden
Step 1. Decide whether you want to grow the vegetables in the ground, in a raised bed or in a container
Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, consider your situation before deciding which method is most suitable for you.
- Growing vegetables above ground is a good idea if you have good soil and don't mind getting your hands and knees dirty.
- Backfill is a great option if you don't have very good soil and/or if you have back problems.
- Container gardening is great if you only want to grow a few plants or if you don't have a yard to grow vegetables in.
Step 2. Decide what plants you want to grow in your garden
Make a list of all the vegetables you want to grow. If you are not used to gardening, you can start planting vegetables that are considered easy to grow the following.
- bush beans
- bit
- carrot
- cucumber
- lettuce
- beans
- radis
- tomatoes
- zucchini or yellow gambas
- medicinal plants
Step 3. Pay attention to space, time and vegetable consumption
When you're thinking about the types of plants you want to grow in your garden, keep the following in mind: space, time and the amount of vegetables you'll be consuming.
- Room. How much space is available to grow plants in your garden? If you have a small space, you will need to limit the number of vegetables you want to grow.
- Time. How much time do you have to grow plants in the garden each day? The bigger your garden, the more time it will take to grow vegetables.
- The number of vegetables to be consumed. How many vegetables will you and/or your family eat? A large garden can provide more vegetables than you can eat each week.
Step 4. Find a good planting point
You need to find a place that meets basic gardening criteria, whether you want to grow vegetables in the ground or just growing a few vegetables in containers.
- Choose a vegetable growing place that gets at least 6-8 hours of sun every day.
- Choose a planting site that can be reached by a water hose. If you plan to plant in a container, you can use a watering can to water it.
- Choose a planting site with good soil. If you plan to plant in a container, use good soil in the container.
Step 5. Design your vegetable garden
If you plan to grow vegetables in the ground, make a rough sketch of where you will plant each vegetable. The most common way of arranging vegetables in the garden is in a row. When you make plans and sketches, leave about 46 cm of space between each row so you have access to weeding, watering and harvesting. You can use the sketch as a benchmark when you grow vegetables in your garden.
Step 6. Buy vegetable seeds
When you have determined the types of plants you want to grow in your garden, then buy vegetable seeds. Be sure to check the instructions on the seed packet for planting times and other information that can help you determine which is best for your vegetable garden.
You can also purchase seedlings if you are going to grow your plants a little later or if you want to make sure that your vegetable garden is well planted. Remember that plants are more expensive than seeds
Part 2 of 3: Planting a Garden
Step 1. Gather the necessary equipment
Gather basic gardening tools before you start growing your vegetable garden.
- shovel
- garden fork
- hoe
- water hose
- hand cart (or bucket if you plan to grow in a container)
Step 2. Put on gloves and clothes that are okay if they get dirty
You may get dirty while growing vegetables in the garden, so wear gloves and clothes that are okay if they get dirty.
Step 3. Prepare the soil to be used
If you are growing your vegetable garden in the ground, you will need to use a cultivator or hoe to dig up the soil before planting the seeds and/or crops. If you are growing your vegetable garden in a raised bed or container, you do not need to do this step. You just need to place the soil in a raised bed or container.
Step 4. Use a shovel to dig a long shallow trench for your seedlings
Follow the instructions on the seedling package to determine the depth of the trench and the distance from one trench to another. Garden rows should be about 4 inches apart, but some other vegetables require more space.
Step 5. Plant your seeds
Follow the instructions on the seedling package to determine the distance from one seed to another. Some clues will instruct you to place more than one seed in each available space. Read the instructions carefully to be sure.
Step 6. Coat the seedlings with dirt
Once you've planted the plant in the ground, coat the soil with a thin layer of manure and then gently compact it. Follow the directions on the seedling package to determine how much dirt to apply to the seedling.
Step 7. Mark your vegetable ranks
To track where to plant, you will need to mark each end of your plant range or in the container. An easy way to mark your vegetables is to write the name of the vegetable on the ice cream stick and place the stick in the middle of each end of the vegetable row or in each container used.
Step 8. Water your garden
After you are done planting the seedlings, you need to give your garden the first watering. In-ground gardens dry out more slowly than gardens grown in stockpiles and containers, so you will need to provide more water for your seedlings if you are growing vegetables in stockpiles or containers.
Part 3 of 3: Taking Care of the Garden
Step 1. Water the garden as needed
Vegetables need about 2.5 cm of water per week to grow, and require twice as much water especially in hot, dry areas.
- Test the soil by sticking your bare finger into the soil every day to see if your plant needs watering. If the top of the soil to a depth of 2.5 cm is dry, you will need to water your garden.
- Resist the use of a water hose if rain is expected. Nature may occasionally water your garden, but check the soil after it rains to see if it has provided sufficient moisture for the plants.
- Keep in mind that stockpiled beds and containers dry out faster than ground gardens, so you'll need to water your plants more often if you're growing them in a raised bed or container.
Step 2. Weed your garden regularly
Pull the grass in your garden every other day and then pull it out when you see it. Don't wait for the grass to grow big. The earlier you pull the grass, the better. If you wait too long to pull the grass, the grass will grow throughout your garden.
Step 3. Take your garden produce
Take the vegetables after they are cooked. Once the vegetables start to ripen, check your garden every day so you don't miss harvest time. Some vegetables can be harvested while they are still young, such as lettuce and gambas. The plants will continue to produce even after you pick them up and even most plants can produce more as a result of picking them.
Tips
- Try growing marigolds in your garden to prevent rabbits from breaking into your garden and eating your vegetables.
- Try planting onions, garlic and chrysanthemums to help keep insects away.
