Vegetable Gardening

Vegetable Gardening Tips

Many of us buy our vegetables from supermarkets. With a little planning and some forethought it is possible to grow your very own vegetables. There are many vegetables that you can use, and there are some vegetable gardening tips that can help you to make the most out of your garden.

1. Keep garden vegetables from getting dirty by spreading a 1-2 inch layer of mulch   around each plant. This will also help keep the weeds down. 2. Like vining vegetables, but don't have the room? Train your melons, squash, and  cucumbers onto a vertical trellis or fence. Saves space and looks pretty too. 3. Onions are ready to harvest when the tops have fallen over. Let the soil dry out,  harvest, and store in a warm, dry, dark place until the tops dry. Cut off the foliage   down to an inch, then store in a cool, dry area. 4. When planting a flower or vegetable transplant, deposit a handful of   compost  into each hole. Compost will provide transplants with an extra boost that lasts  throughout the growing season. 5. Insects can't stand plants such as garlic, onions, chives and chrysanthemums. Grow these plants around the garden to help repel insects. 6. For easy peas, start them indoors. The germination rate is far better, and the  seedlings will be healthier and better able to fight off pests and disease. 7. Another reason to use natural and organic fertilizers and soil amendments: earthworms love them! Earthworms are extremely beneficial in the vegetable      garden; increasing air space in the soil and leaving behind worm castings. Do what you can to encourage earthworms in your soil. 8. Water your garden in the early morning to conserve moisture loss and to help    avoid powdery mildew and other fungal diseases that are often spread by high humidity levels. 9. Healthy soil means a thriving population of microbes, earthworms and other  organisms. A soil that has "good tilth" will produce robust garden plants that are better able to resist pests and disease. 10. Garden vegetables that become over-ripe are an easy target for some pests.  Remove them as soon as possible to avoid detection.

Vegetable Gardening Care Tips

1. Water,food,and protection from weeds, pests, and diseases are all essential to the proper care of a vegetable garden. Enough water is of primary concern-- vegetables need a steady supply throughout the growing season. 2. You'll need to water fairly often as the plants become established or if you have sandy soil or excessive heat. Once plants are established, water them less often, but deeply. 3. Plants also need fertilizers, especially the three major nutrients of nitrogen,phosphorus, and potassium. You can use either natural or chemical fertilizers, which are available in dry and liquid formulas. Natural fertilizers are the choice for organic growing. 4. fertilizer when you plant. Forlong-season crops or heavy feeders, such as corn and tomatoes, fertilize again throughout the growing season, following package directions. Weeds will compete with your vegetables for water, nutrients, and sun. 5. Mulching around your vegetables helps retard water evaporation and keeps down weeds; organic mulches are the most popular for vegetables. Because mulch keeps the soil temperature cool, wait until the weather is warm to add it in. Apply it in a 2-to-3-inch layer, keeping it away from the crowns of the plants.