How to create a fertile garden: 6 helpful tips

Home gardening not only enables you to save money but also allows you to connect with nature and enjoy fresh, flavorful food. SSPDaily has compiled tips for establishing a garden.

Start with a small plot

In this scenario, the outcomes of a small garden will bring you joy without overwhelming you with the demands of a larger one. Additionally, by starting small, you can gauge the time commitment of gardening and determine the amount of fresh produce your family can consume. A beginner's garden can be as small as 2x2 meters.

Choose no more than five types of vegetables, planting several of each variety. This approach ensures an ample supply of food for summer meals and simplifies garden care. If yard space is limited, consider container gardening on a sunny terrace or balcony.

Grow what you love

Plant vegetables that you enjoy eating. When deciding what to cultivate in your garden, let your preferences guide you. Consider the characteristics of different varieties, such as disease resistance, plant size, and care requirements.

Select vegetables based on your taste preferences while also paying attention to productivity. Certain vegetables, like tomatoes and peppers, yield a consistent crop throughout the season, while others, such as carrots and radishes, require replanting after harvest. To ensure a steady harvest, cultivate a mix of cold and warm-weather vegetables.

Choose the perfect location

When selecting a site for your vegetable garden, ensure it has access to water and receives adequate sunlight. Vegetables require a minimum of 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for healthy growth. Avoid areas shaded by trees, shrubs, or fences.

If your location has partial shade, opt for vegetables and herbs that tolerate such conditions, such as lettuce, cabbage, and chives. Additionally, consider the proximity to a water source to streamline the watering process. Placing your garden closer to a water source makes watering more convenient and efficient.

Plan the placement of plants

When planning your garden, consider whether to use row or intensive planting. Row planting involves planting in a single row with ample space between plants, making it suitable for large areas and mechanized equipment. On the other hand, intensive planting entails closely planting two or three plants in a 1.5-meter-wide bed, utilizing almost every square centimeter of soil.

While this method maximizes productivity, it requires manual weeding due to the close proximity of plants. Experiment with techniques like square-meter gardening, where a raised bed is divided into 30-cm squares, allowing for dense planting of various vegetables.

Prepare the soil properly

Good soil is crucial for successful vegetable cultivation. Ensure the soil is fertile and well-drained by incorporating organic matter, such as compost. Organic matter helps sandy soil retain moisture and nutrients, while in clayey soil, it improves drainage and creates air space for the roots.

Determine the soil type by having it tested by a certified laboratory. Adjusting the pH and adding necessary nutrients will further enhance its quality.

Raised beds for poor soils

Raised beds are an excellent solution for poor soil quality. By constructing raised beds above your existing lawn, you can create garden space without extensive digging.

Lay several layers of newspaper at the bed's bottom to filter out grass and prevent weed growth. Fill the frames with quality soil to provide optimal conditions for plant growth and minimize the need for digging.