There is nothing quite like having your own backyard garden full of all your favorite veggies ripe for the picking whenever you want. Nothing you buy from the store can even come close to the taste of home-grown tomatoes, and best of all you will know exactly what goes into these fresh veggies (or should we say what doesn’t go into them).
You can grow completely organic staying far away from the chemicals and pesticides commonly found in store bought produce, while enjoying organic vegetables that you would otherwise pay an arm and a leg for. These are three ways to get started, and it’s a lot quicker and easier than you might think.
Container Garden
A container garden is by far the easiest way to get your vegetable garden started. You can use anything from large flower pots to 5-gallon plastic buckets. Options are unlimited when it comes to what you can grow in but, don’t use anything that is see-through, and the minimum size for the containers should be about 8 inches in diameter and about 8-12 inches deep with holes in the bottom for good drainage. The more room you have for the roots to grow, the bigger and more productive your plants will be.
Just fill your container with good quality garden soil, plant your veggies or herbs, add sunlight, and in no time you’ll be feasting on fresh produce. Container gardens are great for small spaces such as decks or patios, and also have the ability to be moved around to get more/less sun or if you just decide you want them in a different location.
Some bigger plants such as squash and melons aren’t ideal to plant in containers, but others like tomatoes, peppers and herbs thrive.
Raised Garden Beds
Raised garden beds are another good choice to start growing your own vegetables. Raised beds can be made from a variety of materials such as wood and plastic, and there are many easy to assemble kits available to be purchased that include everything you need to get started. See our Reviews of the Top Garden Beds Here.
They come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit anyone’s needs, and are a great choice for any size yard. If you have at least a 4 foot by 4 foot area of open space that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight, then you have plenty of room for a raised garden. Because you put in your own choice of high quality soil, raised beds are great in areas with poor soil that would otherwise not be ideal for gardens.
Being elevated aids in the warming of the soil in colder climates to allow for earlier planting in spring, and allows for great drainage to prevent over-watering. Raised beds are great for people with back problems because there is much less bending over, and little to no weeds to have to pull out.
There are also many additions you can make to these types of beds to make growing easier and more efficient. A trellis can be attached to one side which is perfect for growing vine veggie plants such as indeterminate tomatoes, cucumbers, and sugar snap peas. Hoop houses or covers can be attached to the raised beds to provide shelter from frost in early and late season to extend your growing time, and even protect your plants from garden pests.
Traditional Garden Plot
The traditional garden plot is the tried and true method that has been used for hundreds of years to grow vegetables and many other crops. If you have a larger piece of land, don’t mind a good bit of work, and want to grow in large quantities then this may be the method for you.
The ground can be broken up for planting with a tiller creating as many rows as you think you’ll need. Then sow the seeds or plant the seedlings of your choice in those rows. This method actually is one of the best ways to go if you plan on having plants that can get very large and like to spread out such as melons, summer squash, and pumpkins.
You can use a garden plot along with other types of gardens such as using raised beds to plant tomatoes and peppers and a small tilled up area for your squash and melons, going as big or as small as you feel comfortable with. The downside of growing in the native soil is that it may not be the best quality or have all of the necessary nutrients needed by the plants.
Weeding can be quite a chore with this garden method, and will require a lot of attention to keep from overrunning your plants.
Having a garden can be a very fun, rewarding, and educational experience for all ages. There is a garden type for everyone, no matter how big or small you want to go, and it’s really easy to get started growing your own delicious, organic vegetables.