More and more people in the UK are deciding to start their own vegetable gardens. You could be one of them. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by just how easy it can be to get started. It comes with so many benefits, from helping the planet to saving you some pennies. This is everything you need to know about starting your own vegetable garden.
Why Start
Let’s begin by exploring the benefits of growing your own vegetables. It’s great for the environment as it cuts down your carbon footprint. This is because you’re producing your own food, rather than relying on supermarkets where the veg has travelled thousands of miles. Plus it takes away plastic packaging and cuts down your food shop costs. Growing your veg doesn’t only benefit the planet, but your sense of well-being. It’s a relaxing and rewarding activity.
How Much Space?
You’re probably wondering whether you’ve got enough space for a vegetable garden. Rest assured, you need very little space to get started. You don’t even need access to a garden because you can grow veggies in pots and containers. For instance, you can grow salad leaves in a window box. A garden cloche is perfect to protect your crops if you don’t have a lot of room to play with. The kind of vegetables you want to grow will impact how much space you need.
Growing for Beginners
This leads nicely to thinking about what you would like to grow. When starting as a beginner, it’s best to stick with vegetables that are easy to grow. You should choose crops that require little maintenance, grow quickly and don’t attract too many pests or diseases. These include beetroots, potatoes, and peas. The more comfortable you get at growing your own veg, you can try ones that require more work.
Getting Enough Light
Another thing to think about when picking your vegetables is how much light do they need? Ideally, you need to be growing your crops in a place that receives six to eight hours of sunlight a day. Though there are some vegetables that grow partly in shade. Be sure to research before you start planting.
Watering
Finally, you need to ensure you’re looking after your vegetable garden. A convenient location can make a world of difference with your watering regime. If you’re growing in containers near your kitchen, this won’t be an issue. For those growing outdoors, make sure you’ve got a way of watering that’s convenient for you to do. Otherwise, you risk neglecting your vegetable garden.
Growing your own vegetable garden is incredibly rewarding and great for the environment. You don’t need much space to get started and you can start by growing simple crops. What would you like to grow in your vegetable garden?
