Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Additional articles

With the rise in food prices, more and more people are looking to grow their own food or herbs in pots inside and outside the home. There are a few tips to help you with this, as well as a few things to be wary of. Here's how to start growing vegetables at home.

Steps

1. 1 Take a look around. If you have free space, make sure it is protected from strong winds, heat, cold and sun.Plants need different care, which means they will grow well in temperate climates, but some will yield poor yields or will not grow at all in an unfavorable environment.
2. 2 Choose plants for planting according to the season. The warm climate is good because there is a longer growing season. Others with short summers should strive to maximize summer yields, the excess of which should be frozen or stored for future use.
3. 3 Choose a seedling box or pot according to the size of the plant being grown. Small-rooted vegetables such as greens, lettuce, tomatoes, beans and peas can grow fairly well in shallow soil, provided all the necessary nutrients and moisture are available. These plants are often grown hydroponically because, under the right conditions, they can grow with a minimum amount of soil. But be aware that root plants like carrots, beets and potatoes need a lot more space.
   • The simplest method is to calculate a depth of 1.5-2 times the approximate length of your plants, so if you decide to grow carrots that grow about 20-25 centimeters long, the recommended depth should be 35-50 centimeters.
   • Popular choices for seedling containers are large, detailed stone, wood, or ceramic containers. Open wicker baskets (often available at charity stores) or food-safe polystyrene crates are also good options. Some have gone further and started growing vegetables directly in compost or in a bag of shredded garden mixture, they also use old rags like bags or towels as hanging baskets. Plastic containers are not always ideal because they are not durable and expensive. Old wine barrels are very practical as they are deep and wide enough to hold a wide variety of plants, but you also have to travel a lot and pay a pretty high price for them, simply because they are so popular. It will be cheaper to make your own keg, and for this in tool stores you can use special training programs.
4. 4 Choose your soil carefully. The general rule of thumb is that the better the soil, the better the health of the plant and the better the yield. The recommendation for humid climates is to have a thin layer of gravel or something similar for better drainage, on top of which a net (like an old insect net) is placed, and the earth itself is even higher. The mesh prevents the ground from leaving and contaminating the floor. For dry climates, it is highly recommended to have a wide saucer available to retain water and invest in water-retaining products like alumina, synthetic water crystals (which absorb and retain water to release it more slowly) or good organic matter.
   • Some vendors offer an enriched black mulch that looks very nice but is actually very weak as it is used purely for cosmetic purposes to decorate your garden. Consult your dealer for a good vegetable soil.
5. 5 Consider pairing. Marigolds are very good, as they repel most pests, but some plants initially do not like to be near, due to various reasons. Tomatoes and potatoes should not be planted side by side, as they both need similar nutrients, and many plants dislike dill. Some plants, such as corn and tomatoes, have similar pests, so they should not be planted nearby, making them a less tempting target for pests. But some plants like basil and tomatoes are good partners because they grow better in pairs.
6. 6 Consider crop rotation. After the first year, do not plant the same crop in the same pot as the nutrient levels will be very low. The solution is the traditional crop rotation, so that plants that need a lot of nutrients (like tomatoes) are replaced by less demanding plants, like onions. It is also recommended to plant beans, peas and other greens like clover, as they are all high in nitrogen and help improve the soil.
   • Sometimes you can combine all types of soil together, but this can disrupt the ecology of the soil, making it positive for some plants and negative for others. Without adding compost, the mixed soil will weaken over time, and each new crop will get worse and worse.
7. 7 Consider alternating planting. For example, you can plant a box of carrots, but if you sow it whole, you end up with an excess of carrots. If you do not want to store it, it is recommended to plant the amount you use per week, then repeat after a week to get the next crop.
8. 8 Use granular fertilizers with care. They can quickly saturate the soil with excess salts and other chemicals at the expense of the plants. Use slow-release fertilizers with care, preferring organic compost whenever possible. The same goes for seaweed tonic and fish emulsions, which have a high salt content - use them often, but in very small doses.
   • If you find signs of salt crystal formation, you should stop adding fertilizer and soak the pot in a large tub of water to try to remove excess salt. This will generally weaken the soil, but can be easily corrected with compost. The alternative to this is usually getting rid of the land.
9. 9 The rules for growing plants indoors are almost the same, albeit with their own nuances. Due to poor air movement, low lighting, drying out, or frequent watering, indoor plants have a greater risk of pest problems and weak stems. In temperate climates, it is recommended to take plants outside every few days in the sun and fresh air. In less friendly climates, you must be resourceful and move your plants regularly for better light, use small table fans to improve air circulation, and use your finger to check the moisture of the ground daily. If it is wet, then everything is fine, but if it is too wet or dry, reduce or increase the need for water.
10. 10 Harvest your crops. When the fruits and vegetables are ripe, take a pair of scissors or pruning shears and cut them back to reduce damage to the plant.

Tips

• Read articles about gardening on the Internet or in specialist magazines for a variety of helpful hints and tips.

Additional articles

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