How To Start A Vegetable Garden From Scratch

Don't be intimidated by what looks like the Everest of knowledge, says Mark Diacono - Jason Ingram

Whether it's inflation, a desire for delicious food, or a healthy diet that motivates you to grow some of what you eat, planting a garden can give you more than you bargained for. As satisfying as it can be to cook and eat home-cooked produce, secondary pleasures (hearing birdsong change as the light changes, enjoying the garden or solitude in the garden, a greater appreciation of the seasons, etc.) can be life . become

It's totally worth it, I promise, if you find out a few things before you start.

First, don't be intimidated by the Everest-like amount of knowledge you need to acquire before you begin. The following paragraphs (and the instructions on the back of the seed packet) are very helpful. Second, resist the urge to "do" for a while. A little forethought ensures that planning is focused on your goals.

Create a wish list

The most important thing you can do is create a wish list that describes what you want to grow, this will set the parameters for success. The first year I planted vegetables, harvested potatoes, onions, cabbage, lettuce and carrots; I got what I ordered, but it wasn't great and it came out of nowhere. It didn't look like a success. He convinced me to consider the garden as a menu without crops. Increase appetite-stimulating foods. If you like baby potatoes, asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries and baked beans on your shortlist; If you're nervous, beans, zucchini, chickpeas and sprouts are alternatives.

If saving money is a priority, add expensive picks to your wish list. Watch your intake: Asparagus, lettuce, artichokes, raspberries, broccoli sprouts and tomatoes are just a few options. Consider making room by allocating a small amount of space for inexpensive vegetables like staple potatoes and carrots.

Expensive crops like raspberries are good choices to grow in the garden because they help save money - Mike Powell

Give preference to plants that produce the most. With cauliflower seed germination, establishment, weather and pest resistance, half an hour before popping a perfect head will give you food for months to come. It lets you repeat lettuce, zucchini, and more at the same time and place.

Consider growing plants. Simpler perennials, such as bay, mint and rosemary, take different directions when using greens in a pot, and many are convenient to grow in containers for easy access to the kitchen that evening.

Grow your garden and your taste buds by cultivating two flavors you've never tasted before. Do this every year. Lemon verbena, vomit, sage and blackberry are among the many options.

Be space efficient by prioritizing plants that provide scent and yield. Growing peas and beans produces repeated crops while occupying little land. Cut and return leaves - harvest or cut 5cm from the ground lettuce and chard - the heart of the plant produces more leaves for other crops. Plant fast-growing radishes with slow-growing shoots, like parsnips. Create structure and borders with fruit trees, fans or holes while occupying a small space in the ground.

There are many reasons to choose self-growing plants after establishment. Squash, beans, and gourds are relatively low maintenance and deliciously productive.

location and style

Once you've chosen what to plant, you have two main options. The first has to do with values: a small success makes everyone feel better than a big failure. I speak from experience. Bite off what you can chew and build from there if you need it for next year. Remember that the space you create for growing requires regular weeding, watering and maintenance. Keep a balance between your ambitions and the rest of your life.

"Growing vegetables is totally rewarding," says Mark Diacono - Jason Ingram.

It's important to start weed-free flower beds, and there are two main ways: digging or trenching.

The first is to use a pitchfork or shovel when needed to move dirt, using the back of the pitchfork to break up stumps with the texture of grandpa's chipper: brush, rocks and long-pressed matbox trucks. . when you leave

A no-dig method is to spread thick papers over the grass or lawn and cover with a layer of compost sufficient to accommodate the plants you want to grow. You can direct seed or plant, the paper will kill weeds and dissolve over time to leave a deep growth medium. This method is particularly suitable for new land and/or residential areas where there is unwanted permanent vegetation (meadows, quays, etc.). It also has the added benefit of not exposing previously buried weed seeds and leaving a perfectly happy soil ecosystem intact.

practical aspect

Knowing your soil in many ways is useless, whether it's sticky clay or dry sand, acidic or alkaline, adding compost is always the solution, but understanding your soil is central to what we do as gardeners. Our main job is to rebuild the precious inches of soil on which human life depends and regenerate the nutrients we extract for food.

A garden pH test will tell you that your soil is probably slightly acidic; If not, add some compost. Trying to throw a handful of wet earth into a sausage will tell you which layer is clay or sand; Adding compost will lighten the former and loosen the latter.

Good light is important for most plants, but the summer heat can be too much for some: coriander and rocket go to seed with little stress. Prioritize more sheltered sun-loving areas like tomatoes, and combine shaded areas with other plants that grow there, like sweet cherries, cherries, and red currants.

Deacon recommends prioritizing the sunniest, sheltered area for this sun-loving plant: Jason Ingram

For now, don't worry too much about the twist. Just know that growing plants together allows them to easily respond to their specific needs, and it's a good idea to grow these groups of plants in a new location each year to reduce disease and risk over time. . Avoid depletion of specific nutrients that the soil prefers. For now, grow as you wish and consider riding next year.

Some kind of shelter is important: Chillies and other heat-loving plants grow, and many plants have a sheltered area. If a small greenhouse or polytunnel isn't possible, a greenhouse, hood, cold frame, or small vertical greenhouse can provide the warm, sheltered environment your seedlings will love.

Nature provides sun, rain, wind and earth: your job is to replenish the nutrients you extract from the soil. A key part of compost. The requirements are few but important: do not add meat, eggs or anything else to the composter; Add equal amounts of greens (grass clippings, peeled vegetables, etc.) and browns (torn newspapers, fallen leaves, clippings, etc.). When full, pour into container 2; After bin 1 is full move back from bin 2 to bin 3 and bin 1 to bin 2 and hopefully when bin 1 is full again bin 3 should be ready for you to apply compost. If space is limited, use two vases and rotate the contents frequently.

No matter how you feel right now, rain may be missing when your plants need it most. Catching what you can is sustainable and cost-effective – raining down a downpipe on a bud should give you everything you need.

Unless you want to make a tub of green bean chutney or treat multiple crops at once, it's a good idea to plant in succession to provide a hanging supply. Potatoes and broccoli sprouts are examples of how growing varieties at different times can ensure longer seasons. Others, such as peas, beans, radishes, chives and lettuce, produce relatively quickly and can be sown in small quantities for a constant supply throughout the growing season.

Deacon-Jason Ingram says foods like asparagus "can create hope."

Growing sweet varieties is no more difficult than usual, so seek advice from experienced gardeners and look beyond the varieties you see in stores, which are often chosen for uniformity and disease resistance rather than taste.

My favorites are 'Green Ginger' Rosemary, Apricot Chillies, 'Hurst Greenshaft' Peas and 'Honeycomb' Tomatoes. In general, I recommend growing at least four varieties of everything. You'll find you love two of the four, don't care about one, and the fourth is just a tap away: Substitute two of your favorites next year, and soon you'll have nothing but sweets. It's also a good practice because some varieties grow well in your conditions and may be more susceptible to local pests and diseases.

tools

Quality equipment is important, buy once and buy well. You'll need a shovel and pitchfork (perhaps a spade) to move the compost if it involves digging. I prefer hand forks and rakes to loosen the soil when planting and harvesting. White stone to make it sharper and sharper, you will be able to cut young weeds quickly. Good rope is important and provides balance and discipline when planting and seeding.

A good garden knife is very important, and if you grow fruit you grow pots too. Many plants start best in modules – well made and durable modular trays will last for years and give your seedlings the best possible start. Finally, I must say that a phone is essential: I use it to take photos, locate welcome wildlife and more, and record audio notes (buy more compost, order bean seeds, etc.) to remember later.

Are you planning to start a garden this year? Let us know your comments

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