3 mistakes that can end up your vegetable garden journey
Have you been thinking about why you always fail in growing seed, or you have plant seed in the soil and are unable to make up in the winter, and you become frustrated and decide to leave gardening?
Failing is a part of your life. Gardening involves a lot of failures. Your plants cannot make up in the winter or summer. It may be you are making some mistake. Maybe you are not giving the plant the right spot, or you have put your seedlings in winter that are grown in summer.
Below I have listed some major mistakes that gardeners make more often.
LOCATION:
Choosing the right spot is by far the most vital aspect of starting a vegetable garden. Your landscape should get a minimum of 6–8 hours of direct sunlight however some veggies prefer a shaded area or diffused sunlight.
Start your garden in soil that perfectly provides the growing environment that the plants need. The rule of thumb here is to test the soil before planting to see whether the soil is suitable for planting or not. Many growers pay no attention to this step. Soil which is rich in essential nutrients is the basic key to your garden.
Find out if your soil is more sandy, or just contains silt?
If your soil holds the moisture for a longer period then it must be due to too much clay. A proper amount of sand and clay is required to see a fruitful result.
Sandy soils are known for their drainage as they are composed of large particles. These soils are unable to hold water which is a drawback in most cases and the plant is left dehydrated. Sandy soils are mostly found in desert areas.
On the other hand, clay soils have the quality of storing moisture for a longer period, but too much moisture in the soil will make the roots waterlogged.
These qualities are detrimental when it comes to growing a certain plant. Most veggies require a mixture of both these two soils plus proper proportions of compost and nitrogenous fertilizers like animal manure, and urea. Worm compost and coco peat are used for added benefits.
Plant your garden near convenient water access so watering your plants would become a piece of cake. Avoid sites that have poor drainage or areas where water pools are formed after rainfall.
If you have soil that has poor drainage, look for other options like a keyhole or raised garden bed.
Sandy soils are known for their drainage as they are composed of large particles. These soils are unable to hold water which is a drawback in most cases and the plant is left dehydrated. Sandy soils are mostly found in desert areas.
On the other hand, clay soils have the quality of storing moisture for a longer period, but too much moisture in the soil will make the roots waterlogged.
These qualities are detrimental when it comes to growing a certain plant. Most veggies require a mixture of both these two soils plus proper proportions of compost and nitrogenous fertilizers like animal manure, and urea. Worm compost and coco peat are used for added benefits.
Plant your garden near convenient water access so watering your plants would become a piece of cake. Avoid sites that have poor drainage or areas where water pools are formed after rainfall.
If you have soil that has poor drainage, look for other options like a keyhole or raised garden bed.
WINDBREAK:
Not arranging a proper windbreak for your crops is a very common mistake many gardeners ignore, due to which the crop is destroyed before harvesting and does not give the desired amount of yield.
Storms and hurricanes are well known to damage the tender seedlings, but the damage is not limited to just seedlings or tearing clay pots, breaking cloches, bringing down climbing beans and peas. Also, the strong wind increases the rate of evaporation and transpiration thus leaving the plants thirsty. Due to this, the plants are left for dead.
The damage caused by strong winds is not severe to plants having a woody stem. Delicate herbs like mint, basil, chives, dill, rosemary, and lavender are very prone to damage by harsh weather. Installing a fence and greenhouse will be a handy option in fighting back the harsh weather and operate similar to a windbreak.
Greenhouses are specially designed to control the temperature and air ventilation and thus, extend the growing season. It even produces varieties that are not common to that area, and you’re left with a number of plant options.
Through the greenhouse, summer veggies can be grown in cool climates. Greenhouses prevent pests and predators like moles, squirrels, and deer from damaging plants. Greenhouses are easily manageable and are adjustable according to your needs.
Fences sometimes also act as a blockage from strong winds for your garden. Making a fence around your garden will set up a boundary line between you and your neighbor with some added advantages like increasing the total value of your garden, providing security, and preventing predators from reaching your property.
However, trees and shrubs act as a windbreak sometimes. That is why many expert gardeners suggest placing the shortest plants on the east and large shrubs on the west side. The long shrubs will provide a shelter to small on the west.
COLD :
Understanding your climate changes will help you decide which varieties to grow to make a sustainable vegetable garden. Cold is a common problem many growers are struggling with. Figure out what is the average timing of your last frost. This simpler knowledge will go to aid you in the long run especially in sowing and harvesting the crop.
Garden which is in cool climates might face the difficulty of less sun and less heat. Normally the south-facing side receives more heat and light and thus is warmer than the north side. The north side gets fewer solar rays due to being partially shaded by a building or a wall.
Protecting your crops under greenhouses or polytunnels seems to be the best solution available to deal with frost. Growing Mediterranean crops such as tomatoes, peppers, chilies, eggplants, and cucumbers is out of your control if they are very prone to be attacked by frosts. Focus instead on growing winter-loving crops that are not damaged easily by cold such as winter cabbage, garlic, lettuce, spinach, carrots, radish, and cauliflower.
If you are growing these veggies from seed, initially they require a warm atmosphere. Let them mature up to 2–3 inches and transplant the seedlings outside when the danger of frost has passed.
If you are growing these veggies from seed, initially they require a warm atmosphere. Let them mature up to 2–3 inches and transplant the seedlings outside when the danger of frost has passed.
Final Words:
When you are starting your vegetable garden do not be afraid of failure, it is just a norm in gardening, and keep on striving. Keep on trying new things if one method did not work out. Keep learning!.
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