Do you want to grow your own vegetables? You can have your own vegetable garden. We tell you how to start one in just a few steps. Despite appearances it is not that difficult. You just have to follow a few rules. We explain everything below. Check it out!
Before we move on to instructions for starting a vegetable garden, ask yourself what you want. Is it a small vegetable garden or a large one? The key here is how much time you are able to devote to growing it in the first place. You can always start with a smaller one and expand it by adding more square meters over time.
Willingness alone is not enough, however, because you need space for a vegetable garden. When choosing it, you need to be guided by several parameters. Among other things, it needs adequate sunlight (for at least six hours a day) and is sheltered from the wind. It’s also best to stay away from busy streets and large trees and shrubs.
And don’t forget the purely practical matter. Plan your vegetable garden on a piece of land that you can easily reach with a garden hose. It’s also essential to design at least 30 centimeters wide paths between beds. This width will prevent the beds from being trampled but will still be wide enough for a wheelbarrow to pass through. In addition, it is advisable to locate the garden near a utility building or other storage for tools.
Now that you have a location, you can move on to preparing the soil. This is an important step that you cannot skip. The best soil is humus, fertile and permeable, with a neutral pH. This pH needs to be tested and if the soil is found to be acidic or alkaline, it will be necessary to normalize the pH level.
Then thoroughly clean the soil of stones, branches and plant remains and loosen the soil (for example, with a spade or tiller). This will make it more receptive to nutrients, so after raking – it’s time to fertilize.
Now it’s just a matter of choosing which vegetables and herbs you’re going to grow in your garden. There is a huge variety so you will no doubt find the perfect species for you. Before sowing, read the manufacturer’s recommendations on the best time and planting conditions. You also need to be aware that vegetables affect each other and therefore not all of them can be planted next to each other. For example, tomatoes don’t like cucumbers and beets don’t like beans.
Finally, remember the importance of regularly getting rid of weeds from your vegetable garden, as well as watering and fertilizing it. That way, after a while, you’ll be enjoying your own vegetables – healthy and delicious.
main photo: unsplash.com/Zoe Schaeffer
