Both beginners and seasoned professionals may need help planning a garden design. Those new to gardening may need more tips and tricks, while those with decades of experience may still get stuck in and benefit from new garden planning ideas. So if you've been growing your garden the same way for years or are simply trying greenery for the first time, don't worry, we've got you covered. Read on to learn how to design a vegetable garden.
Why should you plan your garden before planting it?
Whenever you start a large business, it's always a good idea to have a plan, and gardening is no exception. Exploring different garden design ideas will help you refine the final design. Planning before planting can save you time, money and frustration.
Tips for designing a garden
The ABCs of planning a vegetable garden include choosing a location, performing a soil test, cultivating the soil as needed, choosing plants, and making notes before planting anything.
Choose your location carefully – When planning a vegetable garden, a property that says “location, location, location” is appropriate. You need to plan for watering, soil conditions, sun exposure and weather protection.
Make sure you get sun : Most sun-loving vegetables, like tomatoes and peppers, need 6-8 hours of sun per day. Cool climate plants, such as leafy greens, require partial sunlight.
Look for flat soil – In most cases, vegetable plants thrive in well-drained soil. Your terrain component is part of this equation, as is flat terrain. A flat site is less susceptible to erosion than a sloping site, although a slight southward slope can help warm and dry the soil for spring planting.
Don't forget access to water – Remember that your plants need to be watered. So, when designing your garden, you need to consider the location of your water source. Being closer to the tap is ideal and, in the long run, means less work for the gardener.
You want air circulation, but not too much wind : Another consideration is protection from strong winds. Your plants need space between them to allow air circulation, but not excessive drafts. Look for a place protected from windy areas.
Start small – The size of your garden is also important, especially if you are new to gardening. Newcomers should start small; After all, you don't want to overload yourself or overfeed the world. If you feel overwhelmed by maintaining a large garden, you may feel like a failure and give up altogether.
Do a soil test : A soil test is an easy way to make sure your soil is in great condition. Although the process is simple, many gardeners fail to test the soil and then discover that the soil was not good. Take the time to test the soil. You can then improve the soil to make it fertile enough to grow food.
Grow the vegetables you want to eat – While this may seem obvious to some, some people think more is better and then end up with vegetables they don't want. Grow what you will eat. You don't want to compost your hard work or have your loved ones take away your harvest.
Put it on paper - Planning a garden on paper can be the most important step in creating a garden, whether it is vegetal or non-vegetable. Getting everything down on paper allows you to review and add or remove plants or other garden elements. Using a concept is easier than trying to reconfigure an already planted garden. Your plan should include garden dimensions, plant and row spacing, planting dates, and which plants to plant and transplant.
Choose a layout that suits your room : Here are a few things. It's nice to work in the space available, even if it's small. Second, you can always expand, add, or change items or products next year. Use the maximum capacity of the space you have; Even smaller spaces can benefit from more vertical planting or container gardening. You also want a design that works for you, without it becoming a burden.
Give plants enough space – It is very important to allow air circulation between the plants. This helps with pollination and prevents disease transmission.
Make room for aisles – Remember, you need to be able to access your products, so aisles are essential. Depending on the plant, you may need to access the front, side, or back of the plant to harvest, check for diseases and pests, or water or fertilize.
Try companion planting : Companion planting is an ancient practice of planting different types of plants next to each other so that one or both can benefit. This practice can benefit both gardeners and plants because some related plants help with pollination, keep roots cool, provide support for climbing plants, exchange nitrogen from the soil, and regrow each other.
Amend your soil before planting : Remember soil tests? Soil test results will help you decide how to improve your soil before making plans. A soil test can give you information about acidity, macronutrient levels, soil structure and organic matter so you can adjust them.
Transplants are better for beginners, but seeds are cheaper : Seeds are actually the cheapest way to start gardening, and there are many other options to choose from. Seeds are also fun and amazing to watch grow, but they can be tricky. They often have long legs or lack strength. They may experience shock during the transplant. Additionally, some plants do not grow well when grown from seed. If you want to play with seeds, choose plants that are easy to grow and can be planted directly in the garden without needing to be moved, such as green onions or radishes. Plant simple crops early in the season. To increase your chances of a successful harvest, spend more money on a healthy, disease-resistant plant nursery for hard-to-start plants like tomatoes.
Think beyond the first year
When planning this year's garden, remember to consider consecutive planting years. Draw a map showing the location of your plants. Have a garden plan ready for spring, summer and fall.
Place tall plants and those that require tiling on the north side of the garden so they don't overshadow other plants. Group spring crops together so there is room for a second planting after the first crop matures. Place perennials at the edge of the garden so they are not disturbed while you work the soil for planting.
Consider crop rotation
Rotate crops from the same family, such as peas and beans. Don't plant these legumes in the same field more than once every three years. Crop rotation reduces the incidence of pests and diseases that spread to the next crop.
Try perennials
Perennials are the cheapest because they produce year after year. Plants like asparagus or raspberries can only be planted once and will continue to grow and increase production year after year.
