Grow A Vegetable Garden

Learning to grow a vegetable garden successfully, like many things in life, starts with some research and a good bit of planning.

It’s not enough to know what you want to plant, you need to know what will actually grow in your area. Talking to your neighbours or visiting a local garden centre is a good place to begin.

Cost is also a consideration. Seeds are the cheapest way to start but require more time and expertise than buying individual plants. Also, you’ll need some tools to work the soil. You may even need to build raised beds, terrace your land or add a fence. All things which have cost implications.

If space is a consideration concentrate on vegetables that can be grown vertically such as beans and cucumbers and then you can plant beets, lettuce, carrots etc under the canes.

You can also group plants with similar needs together, sometimes called “interplanting”, to save time and conserve space. Consider the amount of watering needed, the degree of sunlight or shade, and the type of fertilizer/soil and at what time of year they grow etc. For example, radishes are ready long before corn gets high enough to block out the sun so they grow well together.

You will need to prepare the soil and can buy or make your own compost and nutrients. Use organic matter if possible as chemical fertilizers can damage the crops and be harmful to your health.

Learning how to grow a vegetable garden need not be hard. Start in a small way with a few crops and then expand as your expertise grows. Don’t be afraid to experiment and you will soon be enjoying the fruits (or vetetables!) of your labours.