Tag: soil

One of the great joys of owning a house is beginning a vegetable garden. For those who have not done this before or are new gardeners, this guide will tell you what you need to know and how to be successful.

If starting a vegetable garden seems overwhelming and you are on the fence, consider the many benefits. There is something truly joyful working with your hands, in the garden soil, to produce fresh and healthy veggies, more delicious than any you will find in a grocery store. Your veggies cannot get any fresher. They will be the best vegetables and fruit you’ve ever eaten. And when you bite down and get that amazing taste you will feel a sense of accomplishment and pride that comes with creating your first vegetable garden.

Vegetable gardening is also a wonderful way to reduce stress. Spending time outdoors and being close to nature. Working with your hands promotes mental and physical well being. Furthermore3,, growing vegetables is a wonderful family activity, fun and educational. Teaching children how to grow vegetables teaches them about nature, healthy eating and responsibility. Finally, if if you are just not sure that the word organic really means organic or if pesticides and other pest control additives are of concern, you can now grow fresh veggies that are truly organic.

Container gardening, greenhouses and hydroponics are 3 of the ways people grow vegetables at home. For beginner gardeners the easiest and most common way is to choose a site in your garden, prepare thee soil, and grow your veggies. This is what this post will concern itself with.

What to Consider in Choosing a Site for Your Vegetable Garden

Choosing the proper site for your vegetable garden is essential to ensure its success.

Sunlight

One of the first considerations is sunlight. Most, but not all vegetables need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight every day. Take a few moments and observe how the sun moves across your yard. Observe where and when the trees, buildings and other structures provide shade. Generally it is best to choose an open area without a lot of trees. Putting your vegetable garden near trees and shrubs can increase your risk for disease and pests, but if you live where the summers are very hot, it might be best to do your vegetable gardening in a location that gets some afternoon shade.

Water

Think about the nearest source of water. You want your water sources to be as convenient and easy to use as possible. You can use soaker hoses, a garden hose, a drip irrigation system or sprinklers to water your plants, but what you do not want is to have to hand-carry large amounts of water a long way. Vegetables need consistent moisture to grow, so being mindful of water sources is extremely important

Drainage

Just as water is critical, so is drainage. You do not want your veggies sitting in damp, moist soil that never drains. Their roots will rot and the plants will weaken and attract pests. Make sure your site has good drainage. Heavy clay soils may not drain well. Sandy soils may drain too quickly. The fix to these problems is to work in organic matter, such as compost or bagged or bulk well-rotted manure. This will improve the soils texture. With heavy soils the water will drain better and with sandy soils they won’t drain too fast. The basic formula is to dd about 2 to 3 inches of organic materials to heavy soils and 3 to 4 inches to sandy ones.

Space and Accessibility

How much space do you need? We recommend starting with a small space, but It really depends on what you want to accomplish and the amount of room you have. Some people are happy growing vegetables in containers. Others will use a raised bed which might limit weeds and pests. Others still will just prepare a small space in their yard for planting. Your primary consideration is to ensure that the site is large enough to accommodate the number of plants you want to grow, and that it is easily accessible for watering, fertilizing, and harvesting.

                Traditional v Raised Bed Vegetable Garden

Should you consider a raised bed vegetable garden or a traditional dig in one. There are certain advantages and disadvantages to each type of vegetable garden. There is no right or wrong, just preferences based on individual circumstances. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantage of each.

Raised Bed

Advantages

1. Soil: You can control your soil, especially if your garden soil is hard, compacted or full of rocks and rubble. With a raised bed you better control the soil by using high-quality soil enriched with organic matter that will promote healthy plant growth.
2. Drainage: Elevated beds provide better drainage than traditional garden beds, which can help prevent waterlogging and root rot.
3. Maintenance: Raised beds require less maintenance than traditional garden beds as they have defined borders, and there is no need to till the soil. They are also easier to weed and harvest, which saves time and effort
4. Pest and Weed Control: No matter where and how you locate your vegetable garden, , you will have issues with insect pests and weeds. However, raised beds typically has less problems with weeds and pests.

Disadvantages

There are three primary disadvantages to raised bed vegetable gardening.

1. Cost and Assembly: Raised bed gardening can be more expensive than traditional gardening as it requires additional materials such as wood or stone to construct the beds. If you are handy and are looking for a project, building an elevated bed could be fun. You can also purchase many types of kits. These can be beautifully designed and easy to assemble, but they are not free.
2. Space and time: If you are going to want a large vegetable garden, raised beds my not be the way to go due to cost and other factors. Also, raised beds take more time to put together. So, if you are anxious to get going, buying and assembling an elevated bed may not be the best way to go.
3. Limited depth of Soil: While some raised beds are quite deep, most are not more than 18″ which can restrict root growth and limit the size of your vegetables. I When the temperatures get very warm, there is also the risk of the soil getting to warm and the roots drying out.

Traditional Vegetable Garden

Traditional vegetable gardens are gardens that are planted directly into the ground, without any borders or frames. The main advantages of this traditional method is the low cost, both financial and time spent getting started and you probably will have more room.  Most beginning gardeners start this way.

Preparing the Soil

The soil found in most gardens is usually adequate to start your vegetable garden, especially if you enhance the soil by adding compost, mulch and a fertilizer like manure. The ideal soil is around 40% clay, 40% sand, and 20% organic matter. This type of soil allows for good drainage while still retaining moisture and nutrients.

To prepare the soil for planting, first remove all existing vegetation by tilling or double digging the area. Next, use a garden tiller or hand tools like a shovel or fork to loosen the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches. This will help improve soil aeration and water infiltration. Rake the soil to smooth and level it, removing any rocks or debris.

Finally, till or dig the area again to incorporate the amendments into the soil. After this is done, allow the soil to rest. Let it rest for a week or two before planting to allow the organic matter to break down and to establish soil microbes.  

Seeds or Seedlings

Should the beginner start with seeds from a seed packet or starter plants? I recommend starting with starter plants because it is easier. In the early spring, at the start of the growing season, reputable nurseries start stocking vegetable starter plants. While a nursery will never have the variety of plants that one can buy as seeds, good nurseries will have excellent choices for the beginner that suit the micro climate where you may live. Furthermore, knowledgeable staff at the nursery can also be very helpful for the beginner.

Choosing Your Vegetables

Now the fun part….choosing which vegetables you will grow.

Obviously, it is a good idea to choose the veggies you love to eat, but there is a lot more to consider.

Climate and Growing Season:

Choose vegetables that are well-suited to your region and can be planted and harvested within your growing season. You can stagger planting dates based on the season. Tomatoes are very sensitive to frost, so you do not want to plant them too early. Radishes are far less sensitive to frost and are also one of the quickest and easiest veggies to grow. A radish can be harvested in as little as 3 to 4 after planting and that is from seed.

Spacing and Sun

• Full sun: Vegetables that require full sun, which means they need 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day, include tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, squash, and melons. These vegetables need full sun to produce healthy and abundant crops.
• Partial Sun: Vegetables that can tolerate partial sun, which means they need 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day, include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, and peas. These vegetables can grow and produce a harvest with less sun than full sun vegetables.
• Shade: Vegetables that can grow in shade, which means they need less than 4 hours of direct sunlight each day, include leafy greens like kale, collards, and Swiss chard, as well as root crops like beets and carrots. These vegetables can grow in shadier areas of the garden, but they will not produce as much of a harvest as full sun or partial sun vegetables.

Planting Your Veggies

Thought needs to be given to when in the year you pant your vegetables.

1. Timing: If you live in a climate with cold winters, you want to plant after the last frost. You can check the Farmer’s Almanac for that information.
2. Digging Holes: Assuming you are using transplants from the local nursery, dig a hole whose circumference is slightly larger than the root ball of the transplant. Make sure the hole is deep enough to accommodate the roots but not so deep that the top of the root ball is buried. Space your transplants according to the planting instructions from the nursery. Overcrowding can lead to poor growth and disease.
3. Planting: Carefully remove the transplant from its container and gently loosen the roots. Place the transplant in the hole and backfill with soil, gently pressing the soil around the root .Apply fertilizer as needed.
4. Watering: Make sure the soil ball of the transplant is moist. After planting it in the hole, water thoroughly so that it will establish a strong root system. Transplants can more easily dry on in hot weather, so pay make sure they stay moist, but not overwatered.
5. Mulching: Mulch around your transplants to help retain moisture in the soil and suppress weeds. It is best to use organic mulch, such as straw or leaves, and spread it around the base of your plants.

Watering

One of the most important watering tips is to avoid, if possible, watering mid-day when the sun is at its highest. Water droplets on the leaves of the veggies can act as magnifiers for the sun and burn the leaves. Beyond this, be consistent without over or under watering. There is a lot to be said for watering systems that can assist, such as drip irrigation with a timer or soaker hoses, but for most beginners a few watering cans will do.

Harvesting

It is important to harvest your vegetables at the right time and not leave them to spoil. Some plants like tomatoes keep producing fruit over a period of months. Pick them as they ripen.

Veggies, such as green beans and peas should be picked by hand. You may want to use a scissor or pruning shears to cut vegetables, such as broccoli or cauliflower, while a knife is good to cut vegetables, such as tomatoes or cucumbers.

Basic Tools

There are many tools, some with bells and whistles, that might tempt a beginner. Here are the seven basic tools that I consider essential.

1. Garden Gloves: Garden gloves protect your hands from thorns, insects, and other pests. They need to be strong, comfortable, flexible and tactile.
2. Hand Trowel: A hand trowel is a small hand tool used for digging small holes, planting seedlings, and weeding. They come in a variety of lightly different shapes. All will work for a beginner gardener.
   

   

3. Pruning Shears: Pruning shears are used to trim small branches, remove dead or diseased leaves, and harvest vegetables.
   

   

4. Rake: A rake is used for leveling soil, spreading mulch, and removing debris from the garden bed. You may want to consider a narrow one that can work between the rows of veggies you plant.
5. Shovel: A shovel is used for digging holes, removing soil, and mixing soil amendments into the garden bed. If you are going to have one shovel, make it a small one that is easier to use. You will not be shoveling snow or massive amounts of dirt.
6. Watering Can or Hose: A watering can or hose is used to water plants and keep them hydrated. Don’t use sprouts that water a wide area. We need to water the soil not the plant itself.
7. Garden Fork: A garden fork is a tool with prongs used for turning soil, breaking up clumps, and aerating soil. It is about 3 or 4 feet long.

Final Thoughts

Vegetable gardening is supposed to fun and enjoyable. Do not be overwhelmed. You will make some mistakes. Everyone does. It is not that complicated. Follow what I have said and after your first year you will have delicious fresh vegetables.