Understandably, many people have resorted to food gardening in their home gardens. The need to know the food source is high in the campaign for eating healthy. The rising economy has forced many of us to look for ways to reduce grocery bills. Vegetable planting is common in home gardening.
Planting and caring for a vegetable garden seems easy until you decide to do it. While planting can be easy, caring for some vegetables requires you to do your homework. Experts at Clarks Ace Hardware can help you understand the process of planting and maintaining a vegetable garden.
Read on to learn the 5 tips you need to make your vegetable gardening productive.
Choose Your Location Wisely
Yes, your vegetable garden’s location is key to your plants’ success and productivity. Most vegetable plants perform well in areas that receive at least four hours of sunlight daily. To provide maximum sunlight to all plants, place the tallest ones, like corn, on the north or east side of your garden to avoid obstructing smaller plants from sunlight.
The garden must have the right drainage. If your soil is poorly drained, plant your vegetable in a raised bed to improve drainage. In addition, if the garden is rocky, tilling and removing the rocks to allow your vegetable roots to develop efficiently and enhance strong plant growth.
You don’t want your corn to be knocked down by wind before maturing, nor do you want to plant in a place that receives too much traffic or is waterlogged. Sites that receive strong winds are not ideal for young plants and pollinators as well.
Research the Type of Soil in Your Garden
It’s all about the soil! What is good for corn is not good for beans. Understanding the type of soil your vegetables require is essential before planting. Conduct soil analysis in your garden to determine what part can have maximum productivity.
Nonetheless, the best soil for most vegetables includes organic matter, compost leaves, and shredded aged barks. Whatever you want to plant, incorporate sufficient organic materials to achieve the right mixture for root growth.
Plot Size Matter: Start Small
One problem most beginners make is planting too much simultaneously. Avoid this trap if you don’t want to be frustrated. Unless you want to spend the whole day on garden work, plan for a small plot. The best way to plan your plot is to know the number of vegetables sufficient for your family and which you can manage with the time and resources you have.
If you decide to plant on the ground, a 10 by 10 lot is manageable, but if you opt for a raised bed, go for a 4 by 4 lot size.
Choose the Easy-to-Manage Vegetables
As a beginner you’re so eager for the result. But some vegetables can be annoying when you don’t have sufficient skills and knowledge to care for them. To avoid stress, start with easy-to-grow vegetables that require minimal garden maintenance.
If you don’t know what to start with, simply visit our garden centers in Columbia and Ellicott city for guidance. For instance, vegetables that require longtime sunlight may struggle if you’re in an area with extremely cold weather.
Water! Water! Water!
Most vegetable plants need sufficient water to grow and produce maximally. Watering your garden is a regular task you need to do. However, if you’re in an area with adequate frequent rainfall, you don’t have to irrigate the garden.
Start Your Vegetable Gardening Journey with Experts
Whether you want to eat fresh organic vegetables or reduce your grocery budget, you need professional vegetable planting and caring knowledge. At Clarks Ace Hardware, we provide exceptional gardening products and services.
Our hardware store is full of home improvement experts ready to take you through the planting and maintenance processes. So don’t hesitate to give us a call.
Contact us at (410)-465-9633 or visit our Columbia or Ellicott City stores to chat with a member of our garden team.
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