Vegetable gardening is growing vegetables for personal use, for profit, or as a part of an overall landscape design. Vegetable gardens are most commonly established in the home garden of a vegetable enthusiast who wants their favorite vegetables to be grown in an area away from their home where they can be harvested as often as possible. Vegetable gardens are planted to provide food and fiber for family meals and Sunday night dinners. It is also used as a means of self-sufficiency and as an opportunity to grow healthy plants and eat healthy foods. It is a relaxing hobby that allows one to become environmentally conscious as well.
Vegetables are vital parts of the body, supplying most vitamins and minerals we need through respiration. The first common meaning for vegetable is, “that which grows” and is commonly applied to all edible vegetable matter, including the leaves, shoots, greens, and fruits of the plants. In this sense, vegetables are the foundation of the human diet and need to be eaten in large quantities, especially to keep us healthy. In the United States, fresh vegetables make up more than 45 percent of the total caloric intake. A vegetable garden provides the vitamins and minerals our bodies need to stay healthy and active.
One of the most popular vegetables is the potato. There are three types of potatoes commonly found in American gardens: French fries, sweet potatoes, and split ones. The French fry is a wedge-shaped potato, most of whose skin remains intact, although its longest end is shortened. Sweet potatoes are round, oval, or flat and have the most nutritious per serving of any vegetable.
Probably the most familiar vegetable is the carrot. Carrots have been a mainstay of vegetable cuisine for hundreds of years. Early Greeks ate carrots as part of their everyday diet and reported feeling physically better after eating them. Cabbages are another kind of vegetable, as well as parsley and beans. Both of these plants grow easily, need little watering, and are very versatile, able to be eaten on a daily basis while rarely showing any signs of scurrying or compaction.
Although cucumbers seem to be the standard vegetable, there are actually six other kinds. The bell pepper, which is also called Cayenne, is a small, round pepper with thick skin. The pepper has an intense, pungent taste and should not be underestimated when consumed. Cucumber, which is often confused with spinach, is a vine-like vegetable that takes the shape of a vegetable. The vegetable is green, yellow, or blue in color, but not red. The cucumber is most commonly eaten raw in addition to other vegetables.
Vegetables are truly a healthy and delicious way to feed the world. They provide a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants necessary to maintain a healthy body and a strong immune system. To learn more about the many varieties of vegetables, as well as the health benefits of each one, try an e-book by renowned holistic health specialist, Dr. Mark Hyman.