If access to land is a problem, explore opportunities at a community garden. Vegetable gardens located on high ground are more likely to escape light freezes, which may permit an earlier start in the spring and a longer harvest in the fall. These areas are slow to warm in the spring, and frost forms more readily in them because cold air cannot drain away. Avoid locating the garden in a low spot, such as at the base of a hill. Access to a hose bib or irrigation system saves the effort of hauling water during dry months.Īnother important consideration is good air movement. Consider convenient availability to clean water sources when locating your garden. Placing a garden near the home or near a pattern of foot traffic through the yard ensures easy access for garden tasks and facilitates frequent inspections. Learn about amending your soil in chapter 2, “ Composting.” More about preparing garden soil is covered in the following sections. Chapter 1, “ Soils and Plant Nutrients,” provides more information about the soil in your garden as well as soil testing.
Areas where water pools have poor drainage and without serious remediation would not be a good site for a garden ( Figure 16–4). Good soil drainage is also very important. Plants that flower and set fruit, such as eggplants, melons, peppers, and tomatoes, require more light. Those vegetables that produce edible stems and leaves (such as broccoli, cabbage, collards, kale, lettuce, parsley, and spinach) as well as those that produce edible roots (such as beets, carrots, radishes, and turnips) are more tolerant of shade. Some vegetables tolerate shade better than others. Vegetables should be planted away from the shade of buildings, and the shade and competing root systems of trees and shrubs.
The garden must receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day 8 to 10 hours is ideal. The most important factor to consider when selecting a garden site is sunlight.
Free garden tracker 1st time grower how to#
Review NC State Extension publication AGW-439-78, Soil Facts: Minimizing Risks of Soil Contaminants in Urban Gardens, which provides indicators for concern, guidelines for when to have the soil tested for contaminants, directions for how to interpret the results, and strategies for minimizing risks-for example, using raised beds with imported soil or containers. Prior to selecting a site, consider previous uses of the land and potential contaminants. At the same time, you could interplant a perennial border with kale and Swiss chard, grow herbs in containers on your back patio, and produce microgreens hydroponically inside your home. For example, you could grow cucumbers and corn in a traditional in-ground garden bed in your backyard while growing carrots and broccoli in a raised bed in your front yard. These methods are not mutually exclusive. It can involve a large initial investment, so it may not be the best choice for someone new to growing plants. Hydroponics allows the gardener to control temperature, light, and nutrients, all without as many pathogen pressures as plants grown outdoors. Vegetables cannot survive indoors without supplemental light, but growing plants indoors hydroponically is an option that is gaining popularity ( Figure 16–3). Many vegetables thrive in containers, and container gardening is ideal for those with limited outdoor space. Interplanting is also an easy first step to try vegetable gardening if you are unsure about dedicating a new space to vegetables. If your landscape is already well-established and you have no room for a traditional vegetable garden, interplanting vegetables in your ornamental beds is a great option. Front yards are often overlooked-underused spaces that could provide food if located in a neighborhood with no restrictions. If your soil is poor, you may wish to consider planting in raised beds. If you have a sunny backyard with space to spare and good quality soil, you have the option of planting a traditional in-ground vegetable garden.
Consider the size of your family, the vegetables you wish to grow, the health of the soil, and how much time and money you have to invest in a vegetable garden. A Vegetable Garden for Every Lifestyle Skip to A Vegetable Garden for Every Lifestyleīefore donning garden gloves and putting seeds in the soil, give careful thought to the type or types of vegetable gardens that work best for your lifestyle.
0 kommentar(er)
