| What is a self-sustaining vegetable garden? As the | | | | ideal ratio of these three elements is 40% sand, 40% |
| name suggests, it is a garden that sustains itself | | | | silt and 20% clay. If the soil is too clayey, add some |
| through proper planning, planting and cultivation of its | | | | sand and if too sandy, add some clay compounds like |
| crops. If your vegetable garden is self sustaining, | | | | bentonite. In either case, add some peat moss and |
| eventually you will not need to buy anymore | | | | compost also. |
| vegetables from the market or grocery store because | | | | The pH of soil can be ascertained using a pH tester |
| you can eat from your own vegetable garden year | | | | that can be bought from any garden center. The |
| after year. This should be your ultimate objective as a | | | | optimum pH you should aim for is between pH 7 and |
| vegetable gardener. But how can you cultivate such a | | | | pH 6.5. This is the range of pH in which most |
| self-sustaining vegetable garden? | | | | vegetables thrive. Again, pH can be adjusted upwards |
| A self-sustaining vegetable garden is one with healthy | | | | or downwards by either adding lime or manure |
| and good soil for growing high-quality seeds into | | | | respectively. |
| nutritious vegetables. In my many years as a | | | | The next important part of a self-sustaining vegetable |
| vegetable gardener, I have developed a system that | | | | garden is the vegetable seeds. If you are planting your |
| continuously produces vegetables from my garden | | | | vegetables for the first time, you should buy some |
| irrespective of the seasons. My system focuses on | | | | quality seeds from a garden center to ensure you get |
| two elements - the soil and the seeds. | | | | good, healthy vegetables. Buy only real, non-hybrid |
| Firstly, to have a self-sustaining vegetable garden, your | | | | varieties of seeds. After the first harvest, you will be |
| soil must be healthy. Healthy soil is enriched with | | | | able to use your own seeds for the next season. The |
| nutrients, has the correct composition and pH. The | | | | seeds you choose should be according to the climate |
| three main minerals needed by vegetables are | | | | of your area. |
| nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Other trace | | | | Some vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, |
| elements needed include iron, zinc, molybdenum etc. All | | | | parsley, peas, radishes, celery, beets, cabbage, leaf |
| these elements are found naturally in compost. Thus | | | | lettuce, parsnips, and Swiss chard are cold or |
| adding compost to the soil is the first step in making | | | | temperate climate vegetables. But green beans, corn, |
| your soil healthy. | | | | cucumbers, peppers, summer squash, melons, eggplant, |
| The next thing to do is to ensure the optimum ratio of | | | | potatoes and tomatoes are vegetables that grow in |
| sand, silt and clay. You can discover the approximate | | | | warm climates that should be grown between spring |
| percentage of these three elements in your soil by | | | | and summer. |
| taking some soil and putting it into a clear jar or beaker | | | | Preparing your soil well and planting the correct seeds |
| and adding water. As the soil settles, you should see | | | | will ensure a self-sustaining vegetable garden for you |
| three clear segments. The top segment is clay, the | | | | and your family. |
| middle one is silt and the bottom segment is sand. The | | | | |