Known as edible plants that are rich in vitamins and minerals that are important to improve our health, vegetables are defined on the parts of the plants where these come from. For instance, some of the vegetables that are considered as flower buds are cauliflower, broccoli as well as globe artichokes. Examples of legumes are soybeans, snap peas and green beans.
If you want to ensure that you practice healthy eating, it is best that you grow vegetables in your balcony or in your backyard. Below are some of the vegetable gardening tips that can help you cultivate these plants successfully.
Choosing the Area
The location where the vegetables will be planted is important. If you are new to growing vegetables, it is best that you start with a small garden. Make sure that the size does not exceed 8’x10’. You can expand your garden as soon as you are familiar with the different planting and cultivating approaches.
When it comes to location, it is necessary that the area be exposed to direct sunlight. Make sure that the soil is moist and the area has proper irrigation system so that the plants will have enough water supply. It is best that there is no sod in the area because it can cause poor drainage.
Soil preparation is very essential to ensure that the vegetables will grow as desired. It is best that you cultivate the plants in a sandy loam. To check if the soil where you will plant the vegetables is a sandy loam, you can do a squeeze test. You can be sure that the soil is a sandy loam if you can get a handful of dirt from the soil and form it into a ball. If you cannot determine if you got a sandy loam soil, you can get a sample and bring it to a local extension office. Make sure that the office checks the pH level and nutritional content of the soil like potash, potassium as well as nitrogen.
Dealing with Clay or Sandy Soil
If you cannot find an area with sandy loam soil, it is important that you put topsoil on clay or sandy soil. However, if you do not have extra budget for purchasing topsoil, make sure that you add compost to the soil to enhance its nutritional content. As soon as you have prepared the soil, purchase seedlings from local gardening stores. Buy excess packs of seedlings since there are times that not all the seedlings can be successfully grown.