Just because you stay in a small area doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy the health benefits of fresh vegetables. A small garden space shouldn’t restrain you at all; instead, it should make you more creative. The small garden can still give you enough vegetables to feed your family.
You can bring out your creative side by coming up with a garden that also makes your space look amazing. Whether you have a small space or a large garden to use, you can use the space to the maximum. By planting your own vegetable garden, you get to control what you eat as well as the growing process.
What Should You Consider?
Before you set up your vegetable garden, you need to consider a few simple thoughts: size, soil, location, layout, and rainfall.
The Location
You want to set up the garden in an area with plenty of drainage and shade. The garden should receive at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Sunlight exposure is different for various plants, but an average of 6 hours is adequate for the major kinds of vegetables.
The location shouldn’t have too much shade. Drainage should be such that water doesn’t flood the garden when the rains come. Therefore, set up the garden in a place where water won’t collect.
The Size
One of the hardest decisions to make is choosing the right size for the vegetable garden. If the size is too small, you might end up disappointed with the yield, and if it is too big, you might be overwhelmed with the amount of work.
The size you decide on depends on the number of people you plan to feed and whether you are planning for a seasonal feeding plan or year-round vegetable supply.
The amount of space you have available for the garden might limit the kinds of vegetables that you chose. Some vegetables require more space, which means you might not be able to meet the demands of the vegetables. It is therefore crucial that you consider the kinds of vegetables that you plan to grow and make sure they have the same demands.
The Soil
The success of your vegetable garden starts with the right kind of soil. Most vegetables flourish in moist soil with proper drainage that is rich in organic matter. The temperature of the soil should also be suitable to keep the vegetables alive. Use a soil thermometer to monitor the soil temperature.
The Layout
How you plant the vegetables is crucial to the final yield, and it all depends on the vegetables you choose for planting. You can utilize two basic types of planting – row cropping or intensive planting. Row cropping makes use of placing the plants in single rows with space between each row. This works best for big spaces and allows you to use mechanical equipment to remove the weeds.
Intensive cropping uses a raised bed that allows you to group the vegetables in wide bands. The bands are closely placed, reducing the space between the vegetables.
The Tools
To assist in making sure your garden is well tilled, tools such as a rake, shovel, and a garden hose are required. Till your soil with the shovel, rake to a level state and water afterward. There are many stores you can purchase these tools, but be sure to search for CouponMonk for discounts.
Rainfall
Rain is good, especially for your vegetable gardens, however, when the rain is too much; it becomes a problem because it can ruin your garden. Soil can only take so much water when it is maxed out, the water pools, flooding the plants and washing the seeds away. Weeds also grow rampant when the rain is too much, you also find it hard to get into the garden and tend to the plants without sinking into the mud. The end result might be stunted plants and low yield after too much rain.
If your area receives too much rain, you need to find a way to combat soil compaction and turn off the irrigation system. Additionally, you need to take care of the plants so that you prevent decay. Wet weather encourages the abundance of slugs that feed on both decaying and living plants.
The best way to know whether the vegetable garden will flourish is to measure the rainfall in the area. Research various ways on how rainfall is measured and use the methods to know how much rainfall you receive annually.
In Closing
Vegetable gardens offer healthier, readily available meals for the family the whole year long. Plan the garden properly to enjoy all these benefits.