There is something very satisfying about growing your own vegetables. Picking ripe tomatoes for a salad or steaming fresh broccoli from your garden not only gives you fantastic-tasting food but provides a sense of accomplishment from consuming something you took time and care to cultivate. If you are new to the experience, you can assemble a thriving garden quickly. All you need is a little knowledge, and here are the steps to get you started.
Select a Spot for Your Garden
There are only a few requirements when choosing an ideal location for your garden. The primary goal is to pick a location with full sun where all the plants can have optimal growing conditions. It is also essential to have convenient access so that you can give your garden the regular attention it needs. Additionally, try to choose a spot that is level. It will make the garden easier to maintain and allow you to create a healthy environment for growing vegetables.
Plan Your Layout
The design you choose for your garden is as important as the location. The layout should be designed for both aesthetics and functionality. The primary concern is creating optimal conditions for the vegetables you grow. A simple and casual garden can have wide rows that make fertilizing, watering and harvesting a snap. If you plan on growing a more significant crop, reduce the spacing between rows to allow full use of the area.
Decide What To Grow
Deciding what you want to grow is a satisfying aspect of creating your new garden. You may be inclined to try to grow every vegetable you love, but limiting what you cultivate is essential. Select veggies that are challenging to purchase or concentrate on your favorites. For instance, if you are a tomato lover, expand with multiple varieties. This will ensure you are getting the most personal reward for your efforts.
Choose Seeds or Seedlings
When in the first stages of making a garden, know that using seeds for each plant you grow is only sometimes necessary. Although you may have particular hopes about what you choose to grow, starting your garden solely from seeds can take time and effort. Instead of nurturing tiny plants indoors until they are ready to cultivate outside, you can easily visit a garden center and select young plants already ready to incorporate into your garden.
Pick the Right Soil
A soil rich in nutrients and full of life is ideal for your garden to give the plants you are growing the energy they need to thrive. Inspect the earth and identify its characteristics. Check to see if it is dense, gritty, or dry. You may need to augment it by incorporating organic matter to ensure you provide a healthy environment for your vegetables. The ideal soil should have a rich, dark, moist and crumbly texture.
Prepare for Pests
Of course, you knew this would be a subject to address. Controlling pests is part of the package when you have a garden, but it does not need to be daunting. The last thing you want to do is spray your beautiful vegetables with pesticides. Instead, there are natural methods you can use to help mitigate pests.The first step is to control the weeds. Keep them in check by adding clean straw or mulch around larger plants. Keep pets and other animals out of your garden. Consult your local garden center for pertinent information about dealing with local insects and wildlife.
Get Inspiration to Start Your Amazing Garden Today!
Now that you have a plentiful bounty outside your door, you may be unable to consume everything. Freeze or can some veggies for winter and have fun sharing your efforts with people you know with a fresh basket or casserole. At Red's Home and Garden, we have all the supplies to inspire you and make your garden dreams come true. Contact us today to get in touch with our team of professionals to help you achieve your vision. Grab some tools and get started!
Everyone is trying to find ways to save money on their food bill these days. Gardening can be a wonderful way to add variety and flavor to your menu. If you’re just starting a vegetable garden for the first time, watch out for these mistakes.
1. Planting Too Far From the Water Source
Water is the key ingredient you’ll need to add to your garden again and again. Make sure your garden beds have easy access to the hose. If you need to, get longer hoses or install a rain barrel near your garden to make it easy to keep the soil moist.
2. Planting in a Place Without Enough Sun
Water and sun are the two most vital elements to growing vegetables. When you’re planting your garden, it’s early spring, so the leaves on the trees may not be fully developed. That could mean too much shade once the leaves do fill in. You also may not realize that the sun’s trajectory may change over the summer. Check the plant tags to see how much sunlight they need. If you’re concerned about a shady garden, set your plants in containers that can be moved around to ensure they get enough sun.
3. Crowding Plants
When starting a vegetable garden, you get excited and want to plant everything you can imagine growing. However, putting too many plants in your space can reduce your harvest when vegetables don’t have room to expand. Check the space that each plant needs and make sure to give them plenty of room in your garden bed. A gardening guide can help you plan out your space more effectively.
4. Planting Your Garden Out of the Way
Putting your garden in a hidden corner in your yard might make you feel as if the clutter is out of the way, but it’s very easy to forget about it. Instead, plant your vegetables where you can see them when you sit on the patio or look out the window. A garden is a commitment, and putting it somewhere accessible helps you keep up with the day-to-day chores.
5. Not Checking the Soil Before You Plant
Plants need to be in healthy and nutritious soil. You can add fertilizer and other nutrients, but you have to know what your plants need and what is lacking in the soil to have healthy growth. Get your soil tested at your local university extension office or get a home garden soil test kit. Use a nutrient-rich soil additive to improve your dirt. You should probably check your soil annually to have the information you need each year to get a better yield from your garden.
6. Planting Too Soon
Even seasoned gardeners get cabin fever and want to get their seedlings into the garden. Many gardeners plant too soon because the warm, spring-like days make us want to get started growing. Unfortunately, the nighttime temperatures have to be warm enough to avoid a frost that can kill new plants. If you’re anxiously awaiting the day you can get your hands dirty, instead of setting out plants, keep yourself busy getting your garden beds prepared by aerating the soil or installing irrigation.
7. Forgetting to Harvest Plants
Beginners often want to wait to pick their harvest to ensure ripeness. Unfortunately, waiting too long to pick that cucumber or squash can lead to unsatisfactory produce. Some plants turn bitter and flavorless as they grow bigger. Those smaller zucchinis may not look impressive, but they will taste wonderful. Check your garden daily. Harvest vegetables and learn from your mistakes, whether it's picking too soon or too late.Your garden can enhance your meals. Let Red's Home & Garden help you get your garden started right. We have annuals, vegetable plants and potting soil to make your garden more successful. Shop today for unique greenhouse selections.
