As we spend more time at home, we are taking more care of our homes and looking at ways to make our homes better. One thing that many of us have become interested in, is starting a vegetable garden. There are many reasons to do this. It’s a great way to improve your diet. It’s very good for your budget. And gardening is a wonderful pastime. Some of you have had food from a farm and enjoyed its high quality. Having that quality of food thanks to your own vegetable garden, is truly worth it. In this article, we will discuss how you can start a vegetable garden.
It takes a lot of patience, care and diligence to start a vegetable garden. If you can bring those emotional resources to your gardening project, you can thrive. You don’t need any pre-existing knowledge to start a vegetable garden.
The Pros of Vegetable Gardens
There are many pros to vegetable gardening. You can grow the produce you like, so long as it’s in season. And, you can grow your vegetables in eco-friendly ways, while avoiding harmful pesticides. It’s also a wonderful way to boost your mood. According to research done in 2011, people who suffer from depression experience a lift in their mood after just 3 months of gardening.
Gardening involves spending time outdoors, under the sun. The sun’s rays are the best source of vitamin D you can get. Vitamin D is very important to your health. It’s good for your bone development and for building a healthy immune system. But don’t forget to wear sunscreen!
What You Need to Start a Vegetable Garden
Here are some of the things you need to start your vegetable garden:
Soil
You’ll need vegetable soil. Vegetable soil drains very quickly, so that when it rains or when you set up irrigation to water your garden, the water doesn’t create long-lasting puddles. It’s also moist, so you can clump it together, but not so moist that you can’t break it apart easily. You’ll want to get a soil mix that’s meant for vegetable gardens. It’s even better if you can enrich your soil with organic matter and compost. You can look for the right soil and compost at a vegetable gardening service.
Seeds or plants
If you’re new to gardening, you’ll want to start with plants rather than seeds. There are some vegetables you can only plant as seeds, though. These are mostly root vegetables such as beans, carrots, parsnips and potatoes. Those that do well as seedlings are vegetables such as basils, cauliflower, eggplant and tomatoes. Research on the vegetable to see if it does better as a plant or seed.
Tools
Check if you have all the right tools. You’ll probably needs a trowel, a shovel, pruning shears or garden scissors, a hose with a sprayer, and perhaps even a raised garden bed.
Final Step
You’ll have to pick a spot where you’ll plant your vegetables. It must be a place with lots of sunlight, good drainage, and protected from excess wind. The size depends on your ambitions, but if you’re starting out, small is good. Prepare your soil before you plant your vegetables. When you have prepared the soil, you can then plant your seeds or plant. Each vegetable has its own planting needs. Your seed packet will often tell you how to plant each seed. After you’ve planted, add stakes and water the bed!
About Post Author
