4th February 2022
Do you have some extra space in your backyard or garden ? Then a great way to utilize it is to grow fresh vegetables. There is more clarity than ever about eating healthy, organic food. And what better way to do that than nourishing your vegetable patch. Also, this makes for an exciting hobby to take up alone, with a friend, or with kids.
Keep reading to know the best tips for a budding vegetable patch.
Tips for Growing Your Vegetable Patch
Gauge The Space Available and Pick a Spot
The first thing you need to know is the amount of space available for the patch. Measure the extra space you have in your backyard and pick a suitable spot; look at the natural conditions around it, like the amount of sunlight, wind, etc.
Not all veggies can grow in every condition. Some need more shade, while others can't cross the soil barrier without ample sunlight. If you have specific vegetables in mind, make sure the location you pick is host to the prerequisites for growing them.
Prepare a Design
It will save you time and several headaches if you prepare a basic design for the patch. Decide if you want raised beds or pots. Make a rough draft of where each veggie will go, then get digging.
Dig Out the Weeds
Before planting the vegetables, dig out the extra perennial weed that tends to grow in the soil on its own such as couch grass and bindweed. Leave the soil after digging for one to two weeks so if there are more annual seeds; they can grow out. Once they do, hoe them out before planting the veggies.
Start Small
Don't dig up the entire spot you have chosen in the initial excitement. Take it slow and start with a small patch to see if you can handle it. Once you are done sowing the seeds properly in one or two small patches, then you can move forward. And while you are working on small patches, make sure to cover the other unused part with cardboard or some thick sheet to keep the weeds from growing.
Grow Easy Crops First
Suppose this is your first time growing your vegetables or getting your kids into this new hobby; better start with some easy crops that don't need much maintenance or grow under varying circumstances—for example, strawberries, beans, radish, potatoes, etc. Quick and easy turnaround will keep you encouraged.
Prepare The Soil Correctly
You need to get the soil just right for the proper growth of the vegetables. Go for vegetable beds if the soil is chalky or clayey. Put in a generous amount of compost and general organic substances. Composted leaves and cow dung are great fertilizers. Consider doing a pH test as well. The best soil is neutral.
You can save yourself all the hassle of maintaining your garden by contacting our experts at LJ Outdoor Services. Our professionals will make sure your backyard patch and the rest of the garden blooms in appearance.