Vegetable gardening is not just a simple way to grow vegetables but also an enjoyable way to grow plants and save money in the process. Vegetable gardens can be planted almost anywhere and need little to no special equipment. There are a variety of reasons to start growing your own vegetable garden and benefits to be gained.
First, it is a great way to save money by cutting out grocery shopping and buying food at the grocery store. Vegetable crops don’t cost much and can be grown organically in small spaces with very little investment in machinery or soil. Vegetable gardens can be planted in the back yard, on a deck, patio, or in the corner of a room.
The second reason is because there are so many different types of vegetables and fruits to choose from. Basically, there are two different types of vegetable garden – the perennial vegetable and the annual. Permanent hybrid vegetables are created by crossing one species of vegetable with another and creating a new plant that will grow for years into the future. Annuals are plants that turn their leafy tops yellow and red to promote blooming.
Thirdly, the list of vegetable varieties is quite extensive and the various types of plant parts are extremely diverse making this an excellent place to get started. Just consider all of the possibilities – there is the main plant part, the vegetable itself, the fruit that usually comes on a seed, and then there are all the herbs and spices that you can mix into your mix to make your own unique flavors. Even if you want to grow primarily for the purpose of eating, there is a wide variety of fruits and vegetables that taste great and make great snack foods. You can easily find fruit, vegetable, herb, and spice combinations that everyone will love to try.
Fourth, you need to think outside of the box when it comes to planting. Although squash and melons may be the first things that pop into your head, you can expand your vegetable collection by thinking about the other fruit sets that complement your area. Do you have a lovely vegetable garden but not much fruit or vegetable space? There are plenty of fruit set options that can give you the benefit of both plants and fruit in one spot. For example, there is a great fruit set option for melons that has cucumbers, peppers, onions, carrots, and even avocados.
Finally, your soil must be able to sustain the requirements of all the various kinds of vegetables and fruit that you grow. Fertilizer is a very important element of deciding where to plant. Most people choose to use natural compost in their vegetable gardens as it is considered to be healthier for the soil than fertilizer that contains chemicals. Other factors to consider are water availability, sunlight, moisture, weeds, and grass. You may also want to plant herbs and spices in your vegetable garden because they will grow very well along with any vegetables.