Beginner Guide to Planting a Vegetable Garden
Planting vegetable gardens can be a very rewarding endeavor, not to mention that it’s good for your body because of all the exercise you will get, and the vegetables that you’ll get to eat. One of the best benefits of planting your own vegetables is to make sure they are pesticide free.
Vegetable gardens are typically easier to maintain than flower gardens because vegetables are more resilient, especially in different types of weathers. Flowers are typically more delicate to changes in the weather, and don’t adapt as easily. Vegetable gardens typically need a lot of space, though some vegetables can survive in a plant box. It depends on what you expect from your vegetable garden and what kind of vegetables you want.
Organizing your vegetable garden in straight rows is the most traditional method of planting. Alternating rows of types of vegetables is a good idea so that when you pick one kind, there is still a row of vegetables growing in the alternating row. Having to stomp between rows can quickly damage the structure of the soil.
A popular way of planting vegetable these days is planting them in beds rather than the traditional rows. Your beds must be layed out to allow you to reach each row to pull weeds. Raising your bed up helps keep heat inside longer when the weather turns colder. In addition, it makes a good drainage system for the beds.
When you combine vegetables with flowers and herbs in your garden it is referred to as the potager style of planting.
If you are trying to grow a vegetable garden in a small amount of space try using plant boxes. Open spaces and maximum sunlight are best for growing your vegetable plants. The more garden area you have the more vegetables you can grow.
It is important to prepare the soil for your garden. The same holds true whether you are planting in a plant box or in a small piece of land. Soil preparation is an essential step. Soil is either sandy or clay-like with silt being a mixture of both sand and clay. Clay particles in sand help retain water longer as well as make the soil absorb water faster. Having sand in the soil is important because it not only aids the water flow, but also helps air get to the roots so they can breathe.
Prepare you vegetable garden soil for planting by mixing a balanced combination of sand, clay and silt. Ideally, it should be 40% silt, 40% sand, and 20% clay. To test it, you can scoop up soil and form it into a ball using your hand. It should not be too hard as to not crumble when you poke at it, but it should also be sticky enough that it retains its shape even if you don’t press it too hard with your hands.
Planting vegetable gardens require a lot of patience. Getting the best combination of vegetables and soil mixture is up to you. Eating home grown vegetables is hard work, but its very rewarding to enjoy something you grew yourself.
