How to Start Your Own Vegetable Garden
Ready to grow your own vegetables, but not quite sure how or where to even begin? In this blog, San Elijo Hills will share the important steps to take in order to plant healthy, fresh veggies for you and your family to enjoy.
Tools and Materials
Before you can begin gardening, you must gather together the proper tools and materials needed. As far as tools go, you will need gardening gloves, a trowel, pruning shears, a garden fork, a spade, and a hose or watering can. First and foremost, you need to decide what vegetables you want to plant. For beginners, we recommend planting lettuce, radishes, peppers, carrots, beets, cucumbers, or tomatoes. Once you have figured out what you would like to plant, you need to purchase the seeds and soil. Netting or fencing may be necessary to keep out unwanted animals. Depending on what type of garden you would like to have (organic or conventional), you may need additional materials.
Choose a Location
Choosing an optimal location to plant your vegetable seeds is important. You should pick somewhere that has direct sunlight, as plants need the sun to grow. The area should have good drainage. Also, you need to make sure that the location that you choose isn’t affected by strong winds or has the potential to flood.
Determine Your Plot Size
When determining the size of your plot you should consider how much you want to grow. Are these vegetables solely for your household or will you be sharing them with other friends or family? Your chosen location also must offer enough space for your garden. To start, we suggest planting a little at a time.
Planting Your Vegetables
Fertile soil allows for plants to grow. To best prepare the area for planting, it is important to work the soil. Using the trowel, dig holes for your plants. Make sure to give the plants enough space to grow. After placing them in the holes, cover them with soil and add water. For those who are interested in using fertilizer, it may be added at this time.
Water and Maintain
Once you have planted your vegetable seeds, it’s time to wait for them to grow, so that they can be harvested! It can take several months for your vegetables to grow, but the end result is worth it! It is important to make sure that your plants are receiving an adequate amount of water. Be mindful of certain plants that may require stakes or a trellis. In due time, you will have fresh vegetables to make various dishes! After your first harvest, you can decide if you want to plant new types of vegetable seeds or even expand your garden.
Enjoy the Benefits of Your Own Vegetable Garden
Not only is gardening a great activity for the whole family, but it offers many other benefits. You are able to grow your own produce in the comfort of your backyard, allowing you to save yourself a trip to the grocery store. By growing your own vegetables, you can live a healthier lifestyle, eating nutritious foods. You also know exactly what was used to grow your vegetables as you did it yourself. We hope you feel inspired to start your own vegetable garden and enjoy all that it has to offer!