Vegetable Gardening Tips
Starting a vegetable garden can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be! Vegetable gardening is one of the easiest ways to get started for beginner gardeners.
Most vegetable plants are annuals. That means they live for only one season and have to be replanted the following year. Once you get your first frost in the fall, the plants will die and you won’t have to worry about them anymore.
Vegetable gardening is extremely rewarding especially if you plant the right plants. Homegrown food is different from store-bought food, and that is something that is much easier to see when you’re used to homegrown veggies and go back to store-bought.
Getting started with vegetable gardening is not a complicated process, and since I’ve been growing my own food for several years, I thought it would be nice to gather the best tips for vegetable gardening for beginners.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT LOCATION
This is important! If you choose the wrong location for your garden, then you will have disappointing results. Most summer veggies love the sun, so choose a location that will get at least 6 hours of sunlight each day.
PICK VEGGIES YOU WILL WANT TO EAT
A common mistake that new gardeners will make is planting things they don't want to eat. You are much less likely to go out and harvest a crop if you don't want to eat it, so pick fruits and veggies you like to eat.
DON'T PLANT TOO MANY PLANTS
Be realistic about how many plants you need per person. Think about how often you will eat these vegetables in your family and about how much preserving you can accomplish. Grow just enough to last through the summer and don't overdo it!
USE MULCH FOR WEED CONTROL
Mulching is one of the most important things you can do in your garden. Mulch (natural without dyes) will not only decrease your fight with weeds, but also help retain soil moisture and watering needs through the summer.
PLAN AHEAD FOR HARVEST
When vegetables and fruit start to ripen, you might feel overwhelmed with trying to use up all of your bounties. Read up ahead of time on ways to preserve crops and purchase any canning supplies ahead of time.
Your garden should be a place where you enjoy spending time. If there are some aspects that you don't particularly like, adjust the way you grow until you find a method that works best for you! Happy gardening!