Home-grown vegetables are in the spotlight as never before as Global uncertainty heightens. Vegetable gardening tips for beginners is in high demand, as the cost of fresh vegetables in the store shelves reaches an all-time high.
If you stay in the country with lots of land at your disposal, or have experience in effectively growing your own vegetables, then you are fortunate indeed – your skills will be even more appreciated as the world situation deteriorates and the cost of living rises exponentially.
But what if you are a beginner to growing vegetables? What if you struggle to grow a flower in a pot on the window ledge – is there any hope for you to be able to grow your own vegetables?
Absolutely!
The first thing to know is that you DO NOT need to have ‘green fingers’ in order to grow things. Growing vegetables – or fruit, is all a matter of simple science mixed in with common sense
Anyone – even those with little space to spare, can grow basic foodstuffs that will feed the family well in times of ‘pain or plenty’.
All that is needed is a guide that will explain the basic needs of most plants, how to plant them in order to get the best results.
Our latest publication on Amazon ‘Vegetable Gardening Beginners Guide
’ does just that. All explained in Layman’s terms with no fancy Latin names or confusing terminology.
In fact this also includes a Glossary of gardening terms that you may come across in your reading, in order to clear up any ‘language confusion’ you may encounter.
How to start a vegetable garden for beginners.
Here are a few highlights to consider, with further explanation in the following chapters.
- Locate a suitable area to grow your vegetables.
- Only grow what you like to eat or can exchange with a neighbour.
- Choose vegetables that others in your area are growing well – this is evidence that the conditions suit the plants.
- Choose a suitable gardening technique based on your available space.
- Makes sure you have a good soil or growing medium for the plants chosen.
- Be patient! Unless you are growing mushrooms, your plants will not grow overnight, and so patience is needed according to the growing times of the plants themselves.
Choosing a suitable area for growing vegetables.
The vast majority of vegetables need an area of full or partial sunshine for at least 8 hours per day. If you are in a hot desert area then shade is needed to prevent the ground- and the plant- from becoming scorched.
Barriers from strong winds may also be required, especially for tall plants like runner beans or raspberry canes.
This can be provided by a simple fence of garden webbing to break up the wind.
Early season planting in the Northern hemisphere usually means protecting from frost damage. This is easily done by using cloches, cold-frames or gardeners fleece.
Only grow what you like to eat.
This may seem a little obvious, however it always amazes me when I see people growing vegetables that they hate to eat, then wasting most of them come harvest!
Whilst you may well like this challenge, you have to resist it! Remember you are attempting to grow your own FOOD not your own fancy. If you have to rely on eating food you hate at the end of the day – you are going to be pretty miserable!
The exception to this rule is if you are able to exchange vegetables with a neighbour. Perhaps even coming to a previous arrangement to grow in order to exchange.
For example if everybody around is growing potatoes and cabbages, the person who grows tomatoes will be in high demand come harvest time.
This is the basis of the barter system – something that we may all have to become familiar with in the coming years.
This advice does not contradict point 3 in the highlights. Obviously, you should not attempt to grow tomatoes (for example) if the local conditions do not suit tomato growing.
What growing technique should a beginner use?
This may seem an odd point for someone unfamiliar with the many different ways to grow your own vegetables.
The fact remains that there are many highly effective ways to grow vegetables in small well-defined spaces, other than the traditional vegetable plot that most are familiar with.
This beginners guide-book will show you some of the more popular gardening techniques that will virtually guarantee success even when space is very limited.
Ideas such as Raised Bed gardening, Square foot gardening, container, and the Hugelkultur are some of the examples you will find here.
The most popular method for home vegetable growing is undoubtedly the Raised Bed method.
These can be virtually any length but should be no more than 4 foot wide. This is so that the bed can be maintained from both sides without having to tread on the soil, thereby compacting it and undermining the whole ‘no-dig gardening’ aspect of any Raised Bed idea.
The growing medium often referred to as ‘soil’ should be the correct mix of compost, vermiculite or pearlite, peat or other equivalent. Good quality topsoil and building sand depending on the vegetables being grown.
This creates a light, friable mix that is nutrient rich and easy for the roots to establish themselves.
All of this is explained further in the guidebook.
Companion planting methods, whilst perhaps not essential knowledge for the beginner is nonetheless an important skill to acquire and will help in the quest for healthy organic vegetables.
To explain further – if the companion methods are followed, then chemical fertilisers or pesticides are not needed as nature takes over the nurture of the plant to encourage and protect – without chemical intervention.
Pest control is an on-going task for any gardener no matter hat it is you are growing, so a rudimentary knowledge of pests and their destructive methods is recommended.
Patience is a Virtue:
Most of us know this, it is drummed into us from an early age. The fact is though that especially when growing plants it is oh-so-true!
If it is usual for a carrot to take 6 weeks to reach maturity (and it is) do not expect a harvest in only 3 weeks!
This is an obvious and yet important fact to remember otherwise disappointment will haunt you throughout the season as your expectations fall flat against the laws of nature.
Final words…Do remember that it is FUN and SATISFYING to grow your own food.
I personally have spent hundreds of hours in my garden and greenhouse, and can testify that your are not just growing vegetables for food.
You are improving your mental health, having lots of fresh air, and generally having free exercise in your own space without a paid monthly subscription at the gym!
Ready to start growing? Check out our Amazon paperback book here…