As we celebrate and support the global trend to embrace a more plant-based diet, we would love to share some insights with you on how to grow your own healthy, organic supply at home. It could be an exciting new hobby, as there is a lot of work that goes into the planning of a garden before you can see the results. We have come up with a list of tips to help you on your way.
Do the Necessary Planning
Consider what you want to grow, how much space you have and how much time you have available to dedicate to your garden. Planning is the secret to a successful vegetable garden and can save you a lot of time and effort. For example, someone with limited time may start with saplings growing in water on their windowsill or someone with limited space might start with a container garden.
Do Your Research
A great first port of call is your local nursery, where you can consult with the staff on what vegetables you wish to grow and whether they will work in your environment. They will also have pamphlets with information that can assist you in making your choices. Otherwise, there are a plethora of resources such as books, magazines and websites that can be helpful in your planning stages and even later once you have started growing your vegetables.
Invest in Quality Tools
Investing in quality tools will make your life easier and save you money in the long term. If your tools are cheap and easily breakable it will be easy for you to become disheartened and give up on your new hobby quickly. We recommend consulting with the workers at a nursery on which tools to buy as they have the most hands on experience and can offer you helpful advice on how to make use of the tools as well.
Consider the Elements
Water and sunlight are essential for growing all vegetables. Most vegetables require 8 hours of direct sunlight for prime growth; therefore, you need to make sure that they are planted in an area that gets exposed to the most sunlight. You should also consider the irrigation of your yard and make sure that your vegetables get the correct amount of water needed.
Prepare the Soil
In order to grow the tastiest and healthiest vegetables, the soil needs to be organically rich so that it is able to absorb the most nutrients and water. This is why you need to determine your soils PH level and develop the optimal soil texture for the vegetables that you wish to grow. The best way to determine the PH level is by purchasing a soil test kit that will inform you whether your soil is acidic or alkaline. Once you’ve established the condition of the soil, you will need to turn it with a shovel, add some fertiliser, add topsoil and then allow the cultivated soil to sit for a few days before planting.
Start Small at First
To avoid overcommitting yourself and becoming overwhelmed you will need to start planting small manageable amounts. This will also allow you to enjoy the process more. The best way to plan your garden is to draw a rough layout of where you want to plant each vegetable in the space you have allotted and then to starting planting in sections, this way you can also manage the space as the plants grow and make changes if necessary.
We hope that this information was helpful and that you are now inspired to start your own garden!