| Vegetable gardening is among the most popular | | | | some vegetables from the market but at least you |
| hobbies in America. In recent times with the economy | | | | would have your own vegetables that would greatly |
| doing badly, for many people growing your own | | | | reduce your food bill. |
| vegetables has become more than just a hobby. It has | | | | So assuming you have your land ready, you need to |
| become a viable food source and means of saving | | | | ensure a maximum harvest of vegetables all year |
| money. The good news is that you do not need a | | | | round. There are a few things you can do to maximize |
| huge piece of land to grow vegetables. Nowadays, | | | | your yield. |
| there are different varieties of vegetable seeds that | | | | Firstly, carry out companion planting. This is also known |
| can produce high yields in small areas. | | | | as mixed cultivation. It refers to planting certain |
| If a big land area is not needed, what is needed then? | | | | combinations of vegetables together in close proximity |
| Growing healthy vegetables basically involves three | | | | for various reasons. The vegetables help each other |
| main things. First, vegetables need sufficient sunlight. No | | | | grow and thus you get a higher yield. Some common |
| matter what type of vegetable you intend to grow, | | | | combinations are planting lettuce with kohlrabi because |
| you need at least 5 hours of sunlight a day. Hence you | | | | the lettuce draws away the flea beetle from the |
| should not start your vegetable garden in a shaded | | | | kohlrabi, growing tomatoes with basil because the basil |
| area. | | | | benefits from the shade provided by the tomato, |
| Next, vegetables need the right amount of water. | | | | cultivating onions and carrots together because they |
| Watering your vegetables is to keep the soil moist not | | | | each help ward off each other's pest namely the onion |
| to flood the plants. Therefore, this may not necessarily | | | | fly and the carrot fly etc. |
| mean watering every day. It basically means that you | | | | Secondly, practice succession planting. This is a |
| should have a constant supply of water to maintain | | | | technique where you re-seed quick growing types of |
| moisture in the soil. And thirdly, the final requirement is | | | | vegetables every 2-3 weeks while they are growing. |
| good soil. Good soil has enough organic matter inside it, | | | | The vegetables that are usually grown using this |
| which in turn determines its pH. Most vegetables grow | | | | method are lettuce, zucchini and beans. By carrying out |
| well in soil with a pH of between 7.0 (neutral) to 6.5 | | | | succession planting, you will usually be able to extend |
| (slightly acidic). The soil condition not only determines | | | | your harvest to the entire summer. |
| whether your vegetables grow or die, it also affects | | | | Thirdly, carry out rotation planting. This is where you |
| your vegetables' taste. | | | | divide your vegetable garden into different sections |
| If you have these three basic necessities, you can | | | | and then plant each section with a different family of |
| start planting your own vegetable garden. But just how | | | | vegetables like legumes together, cucumbers together |
| much land space would you need? Assuming your aim | | | | etc. Then the following year, you rotate the position of |
| is to feed your family of four entirely on your | | | | the vegetables. This greatly reduces the number of |
| home-grown vegetables without having to buy any | | | | pests and weeds in the garden and will increase its |
| more from the market, a land space of about 900 sq. | | | | yield. |
| feet ought to suffice. If land space is smaller than that, | | | | These are three effective techniques professional |
| just make do with whatever you have. Even if you live | | | | farmers have been using to ensure as big a harvest |
| in an apartment, you can still plant vegetables in | | | | as possible for their vegetables year after year. Now |
| containers. If that be so, you might still have to buy | | | | you can also do it. |