Every beginning is difficult? It doesn't have to be. We will show you the most important tips and tricks if you want to plant your first vegetable patch.
Have you been thinking about planting a vegetable garden for a long time? Then let's go! Vegetable gardens are a great way to grow he althy vegetables inexpensively, fun and they look good too. You don't need a huge piece of land either, because there are also types of vegetables suitable for pot culture that can be grown on the smallest balcony. And so that the beginning is not so difficult, we give you ten good tips for creating your own vegetable garden.
Tip 1 for growing vegetables: the right variety
Especially for beginners in the bed, it is particularly important to choose the right plant varieties. To begin with, robust and easy-care varieties that survive one or the other mistake without dying are best suited. This includes almost all lettuce, radishes, beans, peas and onions. But zucchini or carrots can also be grown relatively easily in your own garden. The best varieties are those that you like to eat yourself: If you can look forward to your favorite food, gardening is twice as much fun. However, you should not overestimate yourself. Start with a small selection of strains, if you like it you can grow your garden year after year.
Tip 2 for growing vegetables: The location is crucial
The next important step is choosing the location. It is particularly important whether the plants get enough sunlight, so shady groves are rather unsuitable. But protection from strong winds and frost can also play a crucial role in good plant growth. If you grow your plants in pots, you should pay attention to the orientation of your balcony: south is ideal. Also consider the distance to your house or the nearest water connection - especially in the high season, long distances can be difficult. The same applies here: It is better to start small. A few rows or a small raised bed are much more suitable for beginners and canwith good care, produce just as much as a poorly maintained, large garden.
Tip 3 for growing vegetables: beds, rows or something completely different?
Vegetable gardens come in hundreds of different styles, but which one is right for a beginner? Traditionally, most of you are probably familiar with planting in rows: one long row is planted for each variety, with a small walkway between the rows. The fact that the beds are very orderly and clear speaks in favor of this method. However, this arrangement also requires a lot of space and is therefore more suitable for larger gardens. For beginners, it is worth creating individual beds with walkways in between, in which different types of vegetables can grow next to each other. This reduces the space requirement and the work - but you should inquire beforehand which plants are suitable as bed neighbors. The possibility of a raised bed is also recommended for beginners: not only is the bed space-saving and clearly larger, but it also protects your back and knees when working.
Tip 4 for growing vegetables: Preparation is a must - even with the soil
If you have never had a vegetable patch in your garden, you should first find out about the condition of your soil. With a pH measuring strip you can find out whether the soil is more in the acidic or alkaline range. A pH value of around seven, i.e. in the neutral range, is perfect. If the soil is too acidic, you can improve it with lime, if it is too alkaline, treat it with compost or manure. Also check the drainage ability of your soil. For this purpose, the soil should be well watered. The next day, take a handful of soil and squeeze: if water spills out, consider improving your soil's drainage ability by incorporating compost. The longer a vegetable garden exists, the more important it is to take care of the soil regularly. The incorporation of compost after each cultivation not only serves to fertilize the next generation of plants, but also maintains the soil structure. Alternatively, you can also use a high-quality vegetable soil such as Plantura organic tomato & vegetable soil. It optimally supplies your vegetable plants for a high-yield harvest and is also peat-free and sustainably produced.
Tip 5 for growing vegetables: growing indoors
Even for the plants, the beginning is difficult - luckily you cana little support: the plants can be grown indoors without having to brave the cold and bad weather in the bed. To do this, simply place the seeds in small containers with potting soil and place them in a warm, bright place. Do not forget to write the names of the varieties on the pots, otherwise confusion can easily arise. As soon as the plants have the first two to four leaves, they can be carefully transplanted into the bed. After that, the seedlings should be watered immediately so that they can grow well.
Tip: Growing vegetables is particularly easy with a cultivation set. Our Plantura vegetable growing set includes everything you need to grow 5 colorful vegetables.
Vegetable growing tip 6: Plant summer vegetables
The traditional summer vegetables, which include beans and cucumbers, but also peppers and tomatoes, are only planted after the last frost. The ice saints, whose commemoration days are in mid-May, are usually mentioned as the deadline for moving to the garden. Once the “Cold Sophie”, the last of the Ice Saints, is over, the peasant rule states that the weather will remain stable and no further frosts are to be expected. Of course, summer vegetables like it warm. That's why they are happy (especially at the beginning) to have warm water when watering them.
Vegetable growing tip 7: Plant winter vegetables
When people think of winter vegetables, they usually have kale in mind. But there are many more varieties that prefer it a little colder: Beetroot, carrots, onions and spinach are also included. Unlike summer vegetables, these plants can endure short periods of frost and are planted in early spring or as late as late summer. On the other hand, these plants usually do not like heat at all: If they get too much heat, they start to shoot and are then usually hardly edible.
Tip 8 for growing vegetables: watering, caring for, fertilizing
The real work only begins when the beds have been created and the first seedlings have been planted. After all, it is now important to keep an eye on everything and to ensure that the plants develop properly. Above all, frequent watering is now mandatory. Check the top layer of soil regularly: if it is dry,should be watered again, otherwise water should not be added, otherwise there is a risk of waterlogging. In addition, you should remove weeds regularly as they compete with your vegetable plants.
Fertilizing is also part of regular care. Depending on the plant, the frequency of fertilization varies, but for most people the choice of a primarily organic fertilizer such as our Plantura organic tomato fertilizer is a good choice. This releases its nutrients slowly and evenly and is therefore particularly gentle. In this way, the fertilizer optimally supplies your vegetables with all the necessary nutrients for three months. For strong and resilient plants with a rich harvest.
Vegetable growing tip 9: The first harvest
After all the work, the fun finally comes: The first plants are ready for harvest. The harvest usually takes place in several phases, depending on which vegetable was grown. The type of harvest also differs from plant to plant. Plants from which you only collect the fruit are best harvested daily. This stimulates the plant to produce new fruit and the harvest is larger in the end. On the other hand, plants that are harvested whole, such as lettuce or cabbage, can be harvested all at once or as needed. If you want to harvest all the vegetables at once, you should think about how you will preserve the plants beforehand.
Tip 10 for growing vegetables: Change yourself, little tree
In order to have a good harvest again next year, you should grow the vegetables in a rotation system. This means that the vegetables are not grown in the same place every year, but change their location. Since each type of vegetable has different nutrient requirements, this prevents the soil from being overstressed in the long term. At the same time, the rotation prevents insects or diseases that overwinter in the soil from attacking the new plants next year. A rotation system in which all plants are in the same bed once every three years has proven itself. But not every plant is compatible with every preceding crop: so find out beforehand which plants are suitable as preceding and succeeding crops for each other. Also note that for certain plants significantly longer breaks are recommended for a bed. It's best to create a plan to keep track of your rotation.
If you are now interested in planting a raised vegetable bed in your garden yourself, you will find instructions and tips for planting raised beds here.