More and more people are taking to vegetable gardening these days, and most of them are beginners. So, this brief vegetable gardening guide is dedicated to them. It is a fact that most of the vegetable gardening being done is in the urban areas. To be a success in home gardening one needs to understand some basic facts and be able to make practical decisions.
First of all you need a garden site. It should be in a location exposed to full or almost full sunlight. The ideal soil for vegetable gardening is fertile, well drained and deep. There should be a water outlet nearby and it should be free of competition from any plants or trees nearby. If the soil is made up of clay, adding sand or organic matter will certainly be an advantage. And, while you are working with the soil, do not forget to turn the soil to a depth of 8-10 inches.
The second step is to decide on the kinds of vegetables to grow. Consider growing crops that are highly nutritious. If you have a fence or trellis, locate vine crops close to them. Avoid over planting and grow according to the needs of the family. Selecting the right variety is of paramount importance as the wrong ones might not be very productive in spite of good attention and care.
Third, remember that to be successful in vegetable gardening, proper fertilization is indispensable. The quantity of fertilizer required is dependant on the kind of soil and crops. Clay soils need heavy fertilization as they can absorb and store fertilizers 3-4 times more than loose sandy soils. Sandy soils needs light fertilization more often. Also adding generous amounts of potassium to sandy soil will make the crops grow better.
Fourth, to make earlier harvesting possible, transplant vegetable crops as much as possible. If you cannot, seed directly at a depth that is 2-3 times its widest measurement. Seed them thick so that you can thin them later to the optimum stand. Planting should be followed by watering. Let the water penetrate to at least 6 inches into the soil. Sandy soils needs frequent watering compared to heavier ones. This should be followed by mulching using organic materials.
Fifth, and finally, in the list of vegetable gardening is weeding and pest control. A long-handled hoe will take care of the weeds without using a weed kill chemical that poisons the soil. For pest control make use of natural methods as much as possible and avoid applying synthetic insecticides. But if you really want to use them, follow instructions on the label to the letter.
Hope this brief vegetable gardening guide is of use to you. Happy gardening!
First of all you need a garden site. It should be in a location exposed to full or almost full sunlight. The ideal soil for vegetable gardening is fertile, well drained and deep. There should be a water outlet nearby and it should be free of competition from any plants or trees nearby. If the soil is made up of clay, adding sand or organic matter will certainly be an advantage. And, while you are working with the soil, do not forget to turn the soil to a depth of 8-10 inches.
The second step is to decide on the kinds of vegetables to grow. Consider growing crops that are highly nutritious. If you have a fence or trellis, locate vine crops close to them. Avoid over planting and grow according to the needs of the family. Selecting the right variety is of paramount importance as the wrong ones might not be very productive in spite of good attention and care.
Third, remember that to be successful in vegetable gardening, proper fertilization is indispensable. The quantity of fertilizer required is dependant on the kind of soil and crops. Clay soils need heavy fertilization as they can absorb and store fertilizers 3-4 times more than loose sandy soils. Sandy soils needs light fertilization more often. Also adding generous amounts of potassium to sandy soil will make the crops grow better.
Fourth, to make earlier harvesting possible, transplant vegetable crops as much as possible. If you cannot, seed directly at a depth that is 2-3 times its widest measurement. Seed them thick so that you can thin them later to the optimum stand. Planting should be followed by watering. Let the water penetrate to at least 6 inches into the soil. Sandy soils needs frequent watering compared to heavier ones. This should be followed by mulching using organic materials.
Fifth, and finally, in the list of vegetable gardening is weeding and pest control. A long-handled hoe will take care of the weeds without using a weed kill chemical that poisons the soil. For pest control make use of natural methods as much as possible and avoid applying synthetic insecticides. But if you really want to use them, follow instructions on the label to the letter.
Hope this brief vegetable gardening guide is of use to you. Happy gardening!
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