The accessibility of vegetables and herbs that you tend you use frequently may just not be the sole reason behind taking up the activity of growing an array of produce on your own for anyone who’s willing to put in the time and effort can also benefit from significantly less cost, a more nutritious produce and raw materials for your cooking than their equivalents that you’d purchase at the grocery stores. Likewise, it provides us with an activity helping us avoid being completely sedentary. A focused mindful break from m the incessant rush of domestic chores too cones as an added perk. What more reason do you need to embark on structuring a vegetable patch of your own.
Things you’d need to start with
To allow an organic garden to flourish all it simply requires is a little soil which can be contained in grow boxes or plant pots.
Additionally, you’ll require a set of basic tools to work with. This will include
- A towel which is particularly handy when it comes to transferring seedlings to beds
- A hoe which is a tool with a steel handle blade that aids in the process of weeding and stirring up the soil to ensure plants are given more moisture, nutrients and space.
- Secateurs are particularly handy in making clean precise cuts.
- Hand forks, water cans and spray bottles are all necessary equipment too.
You will most certainly require seeds which can be bought from a certified organic shop. Organic fertilizer and compost are pivotal in the growth of a healthy plant. Compost can be made on your own at home too; all you have to do is a simple process of layering dry matter such as leaves and stalks, garden waste, animal manure, soil or mature compost covering it with a moist cloth and leaving it for a matter of 90 days.
The Preparation stage of the plantation
A suitable environment needs to be developed in order to ensure a healthy yield. The soil prepared can be done so by mixing together garden soil, organic animal waste or compost and sand. Ensure that the compost is devoid of extraneous materials such as stone, glass or litter. This can be then used to fill up the grow boxes. It is best to grow plants with fairly shorter roots in these. This will include lettuce, spinach, beetroot, parsley, coriander, radishes and herbs.
Sowing your seeds
Seeds can be sowed using either of the two methods depending on the size of the seeds itself.
The first is sowing the seeds exactly where you need to them to be directly in the soil, a method most commonly used a seen suitable for larger seeds that are easier to handle.
The second is sowing indirectly into the seed beds a method that is seen suitable for smaller seeds that need to be germinated in a propagator before being moved out doors.
Plants that are best suited for planting directly are namely radishes, potatoes, carrots, beetroot, beans, peas, garlic, and coriander while those planted into seed beds instead include lettuce, onions, broccoli, strawberries and oregano.
To plant drill a 2cm hole into the moist soil and place the seeds at a distance of 5cm, cover completely with soil and water carefully. Labelling and marking each drill using cards and lolly sticks with the name of the pant sown and the date is key.
Transferring the seeds to the end process
This would be subsequently followed by a process of transplantation of the seedlings by watering the grow boxes, making the soil moist to provide a suitable environment to germinate, removing the seed using a towel or even a spoon if you don’t have the prior; making 10 cm drills and burying the plants as deeply as possible before pushing down soil to remove air pockets and then watering it ensuring the water spray is gentle.
This would then be followed by a steady process of watering, weeding, hoeing, mulching, stalking and crop rotation. Be careful and pay close attention for any disease or contamination in the crop. Diseased plants will have spots or black, yellow or white powder on the leaves of the attack is serious, the plants will look as though they have been burned. Diseases can also cause plants to go mouldy.
Here are a few ways of dealing with pests and diseases. They all use natural materials and/or simple techniques that will not harm the environment:
Remove and squash any caterpillars that you find in the soil and on the leaves.
Remove any sick leaves and plants.
Sow strong-smelling plants in between your vegetables: plants like garlic, onions, coriander and parsley all repel insects.
Make your own bug traps: try covering strips of bright yellow card with vaseline or oil. Alternatively, fill yellow bowls or containers with water. The insects are attracted by the colour and drown when
Once your vegetables are fully grown and ready to be harvested you will have a beautiful yield ready to be consumed. The time will vary according to the amount of germination and the climate, soil and light.
Do not forget though! There might be a lot of mess generated during this process which why you can rely on us at Find SkipBins to clear out all the excess soil, waste or diseased plants and make the task of gardening one that is easy for you!
Below is a table for estimated periods for plants:
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