Growing Vegetables for Beginners
Introduction
Growing your own vegetables is a rewarding experience. You’ll enjoy the satisfaction of harvesting fresh produce from your garden and watching your crops grow. Here are five top tips for beginner vegetable gardeners:
Choose Vegetables You Love
Grow vegetables that you and your family enjoy eating. This will make it more fun to tend to your garden and harvest your crops.
Prepare Your Soil
Good soil is essential for healthy vegetable plants. Amend your soil with compost or manure to improve drainage and fertility.
Start Small
Don’t try to grow too much in your first year. Start with a small garden and gradually expand as you gain experience.
Water Regularly
Vegetables need regular watering, especially during hot, dry weather. Water deeply and at the base of the plants.
Protect Your Crops
Protect your vegetables from pests and diseases by using organic methods such as companion planting and crop rotation.
Growing Specific Vegetables
Chard
Chard is a leafy green that is easy to grow and can be harvested multiple times. Sow chard seeds in early spring, summer, or late summer/early autumn.
New Potatoes
New potatoes are a delicious and versatile vegetable. When harvesting new potatoes, replant any small potatoes that are still attached to the shoots. This will produce a second crop.
Kale
Kale is a nutrient-rich leafy green that can be grown for up to three years. Pick kale leaves regularly and keep the roots watered during dry spells.
Runner Beans
Runner beans are a climbing vegetable that can be grown on a wigwam support. Build a wide-based wigwam with gently sloping sides to keep the bean pods string-free.
Carrots
Carrots are a root vegetable that is easy to grow from seed. After sowing carrot seeds, sprinkle spent potting compost or composted leaves over the seed to retain moisture and warm the roots.
