6 Simple Steps To Grow A Vegetable Garden
Growing a Veggie Garden In Six Simple Steps
Starting and maintaining a vegetable garden is a fun project for both kids and adults alike. Not only is it exciting to take care of the plants, but it’s also great for learning more about the food we eat, how it grows, and the effort that goes into producing it.
Creating a basic veggie garden is a relatively simple task. You can choose to plant as many or as few veggies as you like, tailoring the project to your needs. For example, if you’re new to gardening or don’t have a whole heap of spare time, you might like to begin with just a couple of plants. You can always expand out from there if you find yourself with more time.
There are lots of different vegetable garden ideas that you can try out in your own backyard. In today’s blog, we take a look at some steps for starting a veggie garden plus some unique vegetable garden ideas for your backyard.
Step 1: Pick your veggies
Before you get started on picking the planters you want to use, you should decide on the type of veggies you wish to grow. Selecting your veggies beforehand also means you can tailor your veggie patch location to suit what you will be growing. Some vegetables like to be grown in sunnier positions, while others need a little more shade. You may like to choose your veggies based on what you love to eat, what you think would be fun to grow, or what is easiest to keep alive!
What are the easiest things to grow in a vegetable garden?
If you’re new to gardening, you’ll likely be looking for a few tough plants to get you started on your journey. Some easy veggies to grow include tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, and spring onions. Herbs like parsley and basil are also great for beginner gardeners.
Step 2: Choose your planters
The second step for creating your veggie garden is deciding what you want to grow your plants in. Those who want a simple setup may like to go with a single large pot or a small section of their garden, while people after a larger project might choose an above-ground veggie patch to hold all of their plants. You can either make your own container for your veggies, or purchase one that is pre-made. At this point, you’ll also need to pick where you’d like to place your garden. Generally, you’ll want to choose somewhere that isn’t full sun or full shade, however, the placement will largely depend on the type of veggies you wish to grow.
Step 3: Source your veggies
Once you’ve chosen your planter and the veggies you’ll be growing within it, it’s time to source the plants! Decide whether you’d like to grow them from seeds or from seedlings. It’s generally a little easier to grow veggies from seedlings than from seed. You can source them from your local nursery, from friends who have a little extra, or have a go at propagating your own from suitable plants you’ve eaten.
Step 4: Get planting
Now it’s planting time! Spring is a fantastic season for planting many different veggies. When planning your vegetable garden, choose plants that can be grown during the season you’re in. Prepare the soil by incorporating plenty of compost into the mix. Once you have planted the seedlings, place some mulch around them to provide protection.
Step 5: Care for your plants
The next step is to take care of your plants and nurture them into yummy food. This care will differ depending on the variety of veggie you’re growing. For example, some plants (such as tomatoes and lettuce) are very easy to take care of, while others might be a little more temperamental and require a bit more attention.
Tip: Not all plants require the same type of care. For the best results, research what type of attention, fertiliser, and watering schedule works best for the veggies you’re growing.
Step 6: Harvest and eat!
You’ve cared for them well and now your veggies are fully grown and ready to be picked. Harvest and enjoy incorporating your healthy homegrown food into a variety of different meals!
If you want more information about growing your veggie garden organically (without the use of pesticides and fertilisers), check out our blog on starting an organic veggie patch.
