Vegetable Garden Tips for a Productive Crop

If you’re just getting started with gardening, or picking it back up after a few years, these vegetable garden tips and reminders may be helpful to get you going.

Soil is Key

Building up your soil is one of the most important things you can do to create high yield vegetable gardens. Having soil that is organically rich will encourage growth, provide a lush breeding ground for your veggies to grow deep as well as wide. A multitude of nutrients and the right amount of moisture in the soil allows your vegetables to grow underground as well as above the ground. Using raised beds is an excellent way to build up your soil and keep it fertile. Plus, just a small increase in organic material significantly increases your soil’s ability to hold water.

Because compost needs a little bit of time in order to integrate with your soil, be sure to apply it at least two weeks (or more!) prior to when you plant your vegetable garden. Or add it in the fall and place a winter mulch on top, try chopped leaves or hay, allowing the weather to integrate the compost into the soil for you.

Spacing

Although planting in rows or square patterns may seem natural, staggering your plants alternately will allows you to fit more plants into a smaller square foot area. Using traditional rows minimizes your growing space and may allow space for weeds to invade. Plan your garden out prior to actually planting, and use an online garden planning tool if you are feeling intimidated by the task.

Pest Control

Leaving ripened veggies in your garden is a great attractor of pests. Be sure to harvest your crops as soon as they are ready to avoid drawing in little unwanted creatures.

Also, insects really don’t like strong flavors such as garlic, chives, or onions. Grow these interspersed with your other vegetables in order to ward of the pesky irritants. Mustard greens also trap flea beetles which are often culprits of disturbing other cole plants such as kale, cabbage, and broccoli.

Water Wisdom

Critical to plants, and humans, is water. Most vegetable plants need about an inch of water each week, including from the hose or from natural rainfall. Soaker hoses and drip lines are the most efficient way to water because the water gets to the soil rather than onto the leaves of the plants. If watering by hand, simply concentrate on trying to water below the tops and try to keep the foliage dry.

Growing Systems

Taking advantage of a proven growing system, such as Seed to Cash, is one of the best ways you can make use of your time and energy in the vegetable garden. Whether growing to feed your family or getting started at making a profit, Seed to Cash offers a simple system to get started gardening. Harvest your first crop, and make up to $200, in as little as two weeks!