Starting and planting a vegetable garden at home is an excellent way to pass the time. But growing vegetables is not only a hobby. It has many benefits as well, such as saving money on buying vegetables from the supermarket and at the same time, it brings you closer to nature.
This article will show you the basics of creating container gardens or outdoor gardens in your backyard. But in case you were wondering, here are the reasons you should start a vegetable garden.
Benefits of Planting a Vegetable Garden
- Save money
For example, a budget of $5 can yield up to 10 lbs. of tomatoes if you put in just a little bit of time in your very own vegetable garden, compared to the $20 you will spend at the store for the same amount.
- Better quality
When planted and treated right, the quality, texture, and flavor of vegetables grown at home are so much better than the ones you can get from the store.
- Exercise
Tending to your garden requires physical activity, which is an excellent way to stay fit.
- Fulfillment
Eating and feeding your loved ones with vegetables you planted yourself rewards you with a sense of self-fulfillment. Planting vegetables is definitely something you want to be proud of!
How to Start a Vegetable Garden from Scratch
Here are the things you should know and the steps you should follow to start a garden in your backyard successfully:
Step 1: Choose a spot
If you are a beginner, it is always better to start small, even with a spacious backyard. More extensive gardens require a lot of commitment. So if you want to avoid frustration, make sure you start small.
Step 2: Plan your garden layout
When planning the layout of your garden, make sure you choose a nice spot that gets a lot of sunlight. It should be a spot that gets at least 6 to 8 hours of sun a day, especially for fast-growing vegetables. Note that the area should have convenient water access, making watering your crops a lot easier for you.
The garden space should also have rich soil. To determine if the soil is rich, it should be dark, crumbly, and full of life. You can also tell if the soil is rich when it is easy to dig and drains easily.
Container Gardens vs. Direct Soil
If you have a small space in your backyard, container gardens or planting crops in separate containers might be an ideal choice for you. But with more land, you can create rows for your crops with the right amount of space apart from each other to get higher yields.
Step 3: Gather your materials
Now that you have planned out the space for your garden, it is time to gather the materials you need, such as seeds, shovels, containers, gloves, etc. If you cannot decide what to plant, you should start by growing vegetables that you enjoy eating.
Step 4: Start planting and expect pests
Now that everything is planned out, all you need to do is plant the seeds and tend to your crops. You should also be ready for pests and weeds and keep animals out. Animals love vegetables just as much as humans, but make sure they don’t get to your crops before you.