The Simple Vegetable Gardening Guide
Vegetable gardening can be very exciting. If you are a beginner, here is a simple and brief vegetable gardening guide to help you along with your new hobby. Of course you will want to eventually get a more detailed guide at some point. But for now, this should get you started on your way.
Select The Right Size
Your vegetable garden can be large or small depending on the space you have at your disposal. If you are a beginner it is better to start small. Begin with a single raised bed of 9’ x 12’. Then as you grow in confidence and skill, you can increase the number of beds.
A Modest Beginning Is A Great Start You Can Build On
Once the bed is ready, it is time to sow and you should also do it early in the season. At first, grow what your family needs. At this juncture don’t worry about supplying vegetables for your family, which will last a whole year. Be satisfied with small successes that you can gradually build on.
Keep The Weeds Out
After planting, the next important part of vegetable gardening is weeding. Vegetable plants lose nutrients and moisture to weeds, which can also block sunlight. Even if you cannot find weeds among the plants, hoe regularly. This nips the germinating seeds of weeds in the bud. Refrain from walking on the beds. Weeds like dandelions and buttercups are perennial and should be removed by the roots. Another way to fight weeds is mulching. Use organic mulches such as pine needles, grass and straw. Apply them when the soil is moist. Mulching preserves moisture and improves soil temperature.
Keep Your Plants Watered
Watering is another critical factor in vegetable gardening. Regular and deep watering encourages root formation, stability of the plants and recovery of nutrients. It is better to install sprinklers or drip irrigation. Seeds and transplants need watering every day. Don’t wait for plants to wilt before watering.
Keep Out The Pests
Last but not least is the problem of pests and diseases. Never use pesticides for this simple reason: they kill bugs that are beneficial, along with the harmful ones. One way to surmount this problem is to make use of companion planting. For example: plant onions and garlic around root crops such as carrots. And, by planting flowers around the beds you can attract beneficial insects. Dill and fennel flowers attract certain wasps that prey on aphids. You can remove aphids and kill them or hose them down with a blast of water. Look for butterfly larvae under cabbage leaves and destroy them. Trap slugs with beer or keep them away from susceptible plants by placing eggshells around them.
This vegetable gardening guide should allow you to have a simple but productive garden. You can also add to your knowledge by reading books on gardening, discussing with neighbors, and experimenting. Happy gardening!
Select The Right Size
Your vegetable garden can be large or small depending on the space you have at your disposal. If you are a beginner it is better to start small. Begin with a single raised bed of 9’ x 12’. Then as you grow in confidence and skill, you can increase the number of beds.
A Modest Beginning Is A Great Start You Can Build On
Once the bed is ready, it is time to sow and you should also do it early in the season. At first, grow what your family needs. At this juncture don’t worry about supplying vegetables for your family, which will last a whole year. Be satisfied with small successes that you can gradually build on.
Keep The Weeds Out
After planting, the next important part of vegetable gardening is weeding. Vegetable plants lose nutrients and moisture to weeds, which can also block sunlight. Even if you cannot find weeds among the plants, hoe regularly. This nips the germinating seeds of weeds in the bud. Refrain from walking on the beds. Weeds like dandelions and buttercups are perennial and should be removed by the roots. Another way to fight weeds is mulching. Use organic mulches such as pine needles, grass and straw. Apply them when the soil is moist. Mulching preserves moisture and improves soil temperature.
Keep Your Plants Watered
Watering is another critical factor in vegetable gardening. Regular and deep watering encourages root formation, stability of the plants and recovery of nutrients. It is better to install sprinklers or drip irrigation. Seeds and transplants need watering every day. Don’t wait for plants to wilt before watering.
Keep Out The Pests
Last but not least is the problem of pests and diseases. Never use pesticides for this simple reason: they kill bugs that are beneficial, along with the harmful ones. One way to surmount this problem is to make use of companion planting. For example: plant onions and garlic around root crops such as carrots. And, by planting flowers around the beds you can attract beneficial insects. Dill and fennel flowers attract certain wasps that prey on aphids. You can remove aphids and kill them or hose them down with a blast of water. Look for butterfly larvae under cabbage leaves and destroy them. Trap slugs with beer or keep them away from susceptible plants by placing eggshells around them.
This vegetable gardening guide should allow you to have a simple but productive garden. You can also add to your knowledge by reading books on gardening, discussing with neighbors, and experimenting. Happy gardening!
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