Backyard Gardening Tips

Image via Wikipedia Getting ready to put in a garden can be an exciting time in the spring and determining the vegetable garden design can be part of the process of planning what vegetables to plant where in the garden. Some folks who are really dedicated to having a good crop of vegetables include raised beds in their vegetable garden design as it allows the ground to warm quicker, stay warmer longer and provide better drainage, slightly extending the growing season, no matter which part of the country in which they live.

The major factor in determining vegetable garden design is the space available for the garden. Not everyone will have a large enough plot of land to devote a major portion of it to a garden. However, it may be surprising the amount of produce that can be harvested from even a small garden. People living in apartments have been successful in raising some of the best vegetables in small patio gardens and in containers, provided they establish a vegetable garden design to make the most use of the limited space.

Other than rich soil, about the only other requirement to growing a successful garden is an abundance of sunshine. Making sure the plants receive sufficient water is also part of the equation, but with the right vegetable garden design and the right soil mixture, watering can be kept to a minimum while still providing all of the plants with the amount of water they require.

Most Sunshine Available To The South

The majority of areas above the equator receive the most sunshine from the south and a good vegetable garden design will be planted with rows running north to south. This provides sunshine to all of the plants in the garden, instead of those that are planted with rows running west to east, where the first row will have plenty of sun and the subsequent rows will be shaded from the previous rows. Planting some of the plants in small hills in the garden can have the same affect on the plants.

Many plants can be started indoors from seed, instead of having to buy starter plants, but some plants are not conducive to being transplanted and will have to be planted directly into the soil. When considering the vegetable garden design, it is important to consider how much space some plants will need compared to others, and if planting from seed, insuring the design leaves sufficient room for those growing from seed in the basement or garage.

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Image via Wikipedia I am extremely proud to be Canadian and would like to enjoy Canada for another 50 years as my first 50 some years here have been quite satisfying.

My wife and I have just recently become Canadian gardeners and are loving it so far. Things haven’t grown quite as fast as we had hoped but it’s all a new learning experience for us so we aren’t worried that much.

As Canadian gardeners we love to share what we learn with our readers and friends as well as learn from them, so don’t be shy to leave a comment when you read something that helps you or you think of something that will help us grow as gardeners.

I was raised in Ontario for the first half of my life and as a kid we had a huge garden that supplied us with goodies through out the entire year. Now that I am living in New Brunswick with a family of my own I want to learn to be a Canadian gardener just like back on the farm.

Canadian gardening has quickly become one of my favorite hobbies. I love hobbies that taste good. I guess that is why I am so nuts about fly fishing in New Brunswick as well.

I have a lot to learn about gardening in Canada but I am willing to learn and each year we learn more and do a better job.

Unfortunately this year didn’t turn out so great as far as gardening goes. We have had nothing but rain, which destroyed most of what we started in our garden before it had a chance to become strong enough to survive.

Next year we will start our plants inside and put them out each day for a bit to climatize them and strengthen they stems and roots.

Canadian Gardening Tip

I guess what we have learned this year is to plant earlier and to have better drainage. The amount of rain we have had this year showed us pretty quick what happens to flowers and vegetable gardens when the water just keeps getting deeper. Maybe we should have planted rice this year.

In the plans, already, for next year are raised beds.

Image via Wikipedia Whether you are a retiree or just someone that likes to relax, growing an indoor vegetable garden can be a very enjoyable experience. Outdoor gardening can be a taxing and physically exhausting exercise. In contrast, an indoor vegetable garden provides the relaxation without a lot of the heavy lifting required for most outdoor garden projects.

Space, Where Art Thou?

Clearly, if you are seriously considering starting an indoor vegetable garden then there are a few things to consider. First, how much space can you realistically dedicate to your indoor vegetable garden? You may wish to feed the world with your harvest, but you should consider the hassle of an indoor vegetable garden that is too big.

Time Is A Very Fast Thing!

Next is the time it takes to raise a garden, and let’s be honest here for just a moment. We live in a busy world, and there seems to never be enough time for anything. Likely, you can find a few minutes in your day to water a few tomato plants. But, can you devote hours to a variety of plants that require special attention? It is better to start small and build your indoor vegetable garden piece by piece.

It is far easier for you to go out and buy more stock later than it would be to clean up the mess from dead, neglected plants. As well, you will want to think about how much of the harvest you can actually eat from your garden. Your enthusiasm for growing things can get the better of your indoor vegetable garden.

Know Your Limits

It seems like a good idea to grow a billion different vegetables. But, you should consider who you can give them to if it is too much for you alone to eat. It would be a waste to simply grow your indoor vegetable garden only to see the product of your hard work rotting on your counter. Not to mention, the increase in bugs and other vermin that such a thing would bring to your happy home.

Finally, you should consider what kinds of plants work best in the environment you can provide for it. And, if you are true beginner at the gardening game you will want to read up on the proper care and development of your indoor vegetable garden. But, most of all you want to make sure you are enjoying your indoor vegetable garden. After all, if your hobby is not fun why are you doing it in the first place?

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Image via WikipediaI am learning more as a backyard gardener every year. I tend to get a bit over excited when it spring time comes around and maybe I don’t take the care in preparation for planting my vegetable garden that I should, but I am learning.

When the weather begins to warm and the days start to lengthen, most green thumbs begin to get the itch to begin working the soil in the garden. While there are a number of steps to complete before placing those seeds or plants in the ground for the season, most of the work is fairly straightforward and easy to understand. First, choose a sunny location for your garden bed. Next, prepare the soil by adding all of the necessary nutrients and ridding the area of dirt clumps and rock. Finally, plant your vegetable garden. It is this final step that we will cover here, and we will give three options for doing so.

Start Seeds Indoors

Those with short growing seasons may want to begin their seeds indoors long before the snow has melted from the ground. This can work well with either cool weather or warm weather crops, although some types of plants will not tolerate the transplant process well and are better off being sown directly into the ground when it’s time to plant a vegetable garden outdoors. If you are in doubt about whether a particular crop will thrive indoors, check the seed packet or ask your local extension office for advice. Most seeds can be sown six to eight weeks ahead of the last frost, and with proper sunlight and water will be ready to head to the outdoor bed when the freezing season is well over.

Sow Seeds into the Ground

Most seeds cannot be planted into the ground until after the last frost date has passed, and this will vary from area to area. Your local extension office can give you a precise date for outdoor planting. Prepare your soil well, by loosening the surface and adding any necessary nutrients to the soil. This will usually mean some organic matter and fertilizer that is designed for use when you plant a vegetable garden. You can opt to sow your seeds in long rows or in sections that will allow for better pollination and ease of caring for each crop individually. Make sure that you keep the soil moist until your seedlings begin to emerge and then water regularly as needed for the rest of the season.

Buy Plants from your Nursery

For those who want a head start when they plant a vegetable garden, but don’t want to go to the trouble of planting seeds at home, there are bedding plants available at your local nursery or gardening center. While this is often the more costly option, it can be more efficient because you only purchase plants that you will use. By selecting carefully, you can ensure the plants that you put into your garden will have a healthy beginning, increasing your chances of a bumper crop throughout the season.

Whether you choose to plant a vegetable garden with indoor seedlings, seeds or plants from your local nursery, your garden will bring you plenty of delights and a healthy harvest to enjoy.

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Image via WikipediaWhen you love the taste of fresh vegetables, you probably wish you knew how to start a vegetable garden and grow your own. It can be quite a simple, yet physical task but the rewards of fresh vegetables and knowing you had a hand in them is well worth the effort. In addition, when you involve your children in the planting and cultivating process, they are more likely to eat what they have raised, meaning better nutrition for them.

The First Steps

The first step in the “how to start a vegetable garden” process is choosing a sunny location for your tasty bounty as they need sunlight for optimal growth. Whether it is a bare patch of ground or you have to create a raised bed using landscape timbers, you want to ensure the area gets plenty of sunlight as well as have proper drainage. Don’t become ambitious and create a huge garden as it may become unmanageable but instead choose a smaller plot, no more than 80 square feet, to get your newbie gardening toes dirty.

Secondly for your quest on how to start a vegetable garden is the selection of the type of vegetables you wish to grow. You will want to choose seeds and plants that are grow well in your particular region but if you are willing to protect plants with covers and such as needed during inclement weather, then you can broaden your choices. Tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, beans, squash, cucumbers and carrots are all great starter vegetables to try as they are easy to grow and tolerant of inexperienced gardeners.

Furthering the Agenda

Next on the “how to start a vegetable garden” process is preparing the ground for planting which includes tilling the ground to break it up. Depending on the ground soil’s condition, you may have to add top soil, humus or even compost until the soil is the proper consistency for planting. Sometimes, the seed packages or the plant pots dictate the type of soil needed while other times you may have to ask the garden center’s advice.

Following preparation of the soil, the next activity in the process of how to start a vegetable garden is planting your seeds and/or plants. Tomatoes and peppers are best started from small starter plants while other vegetables do quite well starting from seed such as the cucumbers and beans. You will want to properly delineate each row with a sign so you know what has been planted.

Watering is the final step in how to start a vegetable garden and you should do so once the seeds and plants are in the ground and covered. Continue to water every other day or as needed and pull weeds as they will choke out your vegetable plants. Eventually, you will have a bumper crop of vegetables just waiting for you to pick, wash and consume as you wish.

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