Have you been considering planting a vegetable garden this year? Springtime is the perfect time to get started on your deck or backyard garden, but if you’re growing indoors, any time of year will do. Fortunately, some of the most popular vegetables to grow are also quite simple to cultivate.
Garlic
Learning how to grow garlic on your own is the best way to enjoy fresh cloves in your home cooking. Fortunately, garlic is an easy vegetable to grow in your kitchen or garden. The best part is you can grow it from a head of garlic you already have. You can place it on your windowsill, on your deck, or directly in your backyard.
Start by soaking the garlic in its skin in water for two hours. Next, plant your garlic stem-down two inches deep in well-drained soil. If you’re planting multiple cloves, place cloves about four to six inches apart. Soon, your garlic will sprout and you’ll be on your way to fresh cloves.
Peppers
Peppers are one of the easiest vegetables to grow in a home garden. So whether you choose a mild bell or scorching Carolina Reaper, the rules are essentially the same. The most important thing to remember with peppers is that the plants get big quite fast, so you’ll need to leave adequate space between plants.
Start growing your peppers within eight to ten weeks before the last frost. Peppers need space, so plant them about 18 to 24 inches apart in a sunny area. Keep your soil moist, and use clippers when harvesting to avoid breaking branches. Most importantly, don’t overplant. Pepper plants are prolific, so start with one plant if you’re growing for your home.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a delicious summer treat but often a struggle for gardeners. However, with care and practice, you’ll be able to grow your own. The main thing to remember is they need lots of sun and well-drained soil. Since pests love tomatoes, you might also want to invest in some netting to keep birds and rodents away.
Start your tomatoes inside using a growing medium. Add water once the medium starts to feel dry, but not sooner. Maintain a soil temperature of about 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Gradually introduce mature seedlings to the warm outdoors by giving them increasingly more time outside. Start with shadier areas before giving the plants permanent placement in the sun.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are an easy vegetable to plant from a seed or transplant. Plant seeds one-half to one inch deep in well-drained, neutral soil after any danger of frost passes. You can grow your cucumbers on a trellis or along the soil. If you opt to let them creep, make sure you leave several feet of space when planting.
If you’re planting your cucumbers from transplants, wait three to four weeks after the last frost to move them outdoors. Cucumbers need full sun, so ensure your garden provides direct sunlight most of the day. Avoid overwatering, as the large leaves can cause mildew to grow on the soil.
Squash
One of the most versatile vegetables you can plant is squash. It has a lot of tasty varieties, so it’s an excellent addition to any garden. Squash is also relatively easy to grow, making it perfect for beginners. As with peppers, squash will need a lot of space. Since it’s a vine, you should space seeds about two feet apart and rows approximately six feet apart.
You can plant squash seeds one-half to one inch deep in well-drained soil once the last frost passes. Always ensure a soil temperature of about 65 degrees Fahrenheit, so take that into consideration when choosing your location. If you plan to transplant seedlings, start them about two weeks before planting them.
Wrapping up
A vegetable garden is a rewarding and fruitful addition to your home. The best part is that you don’t need a plot of land to have a great garden. Most vegetables do well in pots as part of a deck garden. Whether you choose the vegetables listed here or other varieties, you can use the growing tips here to help you on your journey.