Setting Up a Vegetable Garden: It Takes Time But It Is Worth It!
|
Just like any worthy endeavor, setting up a vegetable garden requires some thought and planning. This is especially true if you are in an area where you have not gardened before. There are six pages of information to help you more thoroughly. Both ground gardening and container gardening are addressed. If you are a beginning gardener, start small.
Location Set up your vegetable garden area where you have at least six hours of full sun every day. Avoid a location where there are trees and structures that will deprive your vegetable garden of sufficient sunlight. It also will not hurt to have in mind another setting for your vegetables, as you will need to give your primary garden plot a rest every two or three years. Your original garden will need this rest so that you can rebuild the soil. If you have chosen a hill to set up your vegetable garden, furrow your rows along its contour, so that there is no change in elevation. This is called contour planting. Furrowing your rows up and down the hill will cause soil erosion problems, not to mention that the water will quickly run down bringing with it your vegetable garden’s valuable nutrients. Hill planting is a common gardening method for vine crops. Wind factor Avoid setting up your garden where the wind can be too much of a problem. You do not want your vegetable plants broken or dried out. If you really need to set up your vegetable garden in such an area, be very careful in your selection of plants. You can also consider building a fence, a berm, or a hedge windbreak. Hedge windbreaks are popular but, in some instances, you may create insufficient light problems for your vegetable garden. Shop around and see what you can find that will meet your particular needs. Container Gardening This is a smaller version of raised bed gardening. A major advantage is that location is not a problem. Where there is not sufficient sunlight for your vegetable plants, you can always use grow lights. Or, you can set them up on mobile platforms and simply move them to follow the sun. You can set up your containers indoors or outdoors. Blend pot colors, shapes, and sizes with your décor. You can develop the artist in you, if you have not done so, and create a beautiful effect! Fencing This is desirable and has a two-fold purpose. It can keep out animals and serve as trellis to support vegetable crops like peas and tomatoes. Be sure to check your local ordinances if there is anything about installing fencing in your area. The second step is to decide what fencing you need for the particular animal problem you have. If you have deer, you will need one that is sufficiently high, about eight to ten feet tall. Close meshed fencing is a good idea. Check the other five pages for this topic. They will help you in setting up a vegetable garden that is well worth your effort!
|
|
l