Purpose of having great vegetables
To be honest, not everyone can be Martha Stewart. However, when it comes to gardening, there are some things that must be done in order to have a successful yield. Remember the following when starting out: who, what, when, where, why and how.
Who- Is this garden going to be for the family or to sell at the farmer’s market?
What– Will the garden be for herbs, flowers or vegetables?
When– Which season will the vegetables be growing?
Where– Climate, soil and atmosphere matter when gardening.
Why– Is the purpose for personal enrichment or to feed the family?
How– In what manner is the garden going to be grown in?
For example, the answers are: The family (who), vegetables (what), summer (when), Texas (where), to feed the family (why), in garden boxes (how).
Planting for the region
Some types of plants, trees, vegetables and flowers will not grow in certain regions. Each year, the Reader’s Almanac is published to help with this. Using online resources can also help with planning the perfect garden. The USDA has sections the United States into zones.
Example region: Gardening zone is Texas (7B) and planting season is summer.
Using a vegetable calendar, the best vegetables to plant in a Texas garden during summer would be:
- Kale
- Onions- Pearl, Thai Shallots, Spicy Yellow, Torpedo and Red Creole
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Celery
- Sweet Potato
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Melons
- Corn- Sweet, Hominy and Dent
- Beans- Black, Cannellini, Kidney and Lima
All around great vegetables
Whenever planting vegetables, there are some that work in almost any garden. Small gardens or large gardens have their restrictions, however, these compact vegetables will complete any garden.
- Cucumbers- Bush Slicing and Green Fingers
- Peppers
- Tomatoes- Amish Rose, Arkansas Traveler, Black Cherry, Cherry, Grape, Carmello and Roma
- Zucchini
- Leaf Lettuce- Iceberg, Butterhead Boston, Green and Red Leaf
- Radish
- Swiss Chard
- Snow peas
- Kale
Tips for wonderful gardening
Whether the yard is small or large, a box garden has some very important benefits. Weeds are a disaster when it comes to keeping a garden up and running. Have a box garden eliminates the weeds altogether. Another big problem when planting into the ground is ground pests. A raised box can keep these animals out of the vegetables. However, the ultimate key to gardening is the soil. Having a bountiful, rich garden depends on how much the soil is worked. Here are some tips to keep the soil in your garden full of nutrients and healthy plants:
1. Stay away from pesticides. Pesticides cause leeching in groundwater and have been linked to many deadly diseases. Remember, insecticides are just as dangerous.
- Cancer
- ADHD
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Birth defects
Types of Pesticides
- Broad Spectrum
- Narrow Spectrum
- Chitin synthesis inhibitors
- Miticides
- Fungicides
- Herbicides
- Rodenticides
- Nematicides
2. Use organic soil. Organic soil is rich in nutrients and produces better crops. It also promotes root growth.
3. Put like plants together. For example, thirsty vegetables should not be mixed with long waiting vegetables.
4. Another great way to have a good crop is simply to cover it, especially for those crops that do not need a lot of sunlight.
Closing thoughts
Read through the zoning areas to make sure the vegetables will grow within your zone. Do not forget the seasonal guides as well – planting a winter vegetable during spring is not going to end well. Lastly, have fun with gardening and produce something great in time and in taste for the family.