It’s one of those life’s-simple-pleasures dreams pretty much every homeowner has, that of having your own little pumpkin patch to grow vegetables in. When it comes down to the actual work of physically getting one set up then the enthusiasm can wane quite quickly and that patch you earmarked for your home vegetable garden remains exactly the same as it’s been for as long as you can remember.
Now is the time to act though because it takes momentum to make it happen. Fortunately once you actually get that momentum going then it becomes really hard to stop – it becomes a labour of love and it can also become what can only be considered to be a constructive obsession.
Picking the optimal spot
Your backyard vegetable garden should be seen as a lifelong project, much like how you maintain your lawn by mowing it every now and then. So, if you’re not enjoying home-grown veggies within the next three to six months, this doesn’t mean you’ve failed in your quest to grow your own vegetable garden.
First you have to find the optimal spot for growing vegetables and this isn’t as difficult as you may think. You can test out the soil physically by planting one or two quick-growing fruits and veggies like pumpkins or watermelons and if they flourish then you know you’ve found a good spot through physical evidence. Otherwise it’s really just a case of choosing fertile soil which is located in a spot that receives a good bit of sunshine every day. If there’s an area which fits the bill in this way plus it has natural moist such as due forming, then things could probably not get better than that.
The actual pumpkin patch you dig out and section off should be big enough so that you can essentially rotate your crops, but this mustn’t be too obvious because you still want it to look nice. For some plants, a greenhouse will be the ideal place for growing. If this is something you’re interested in, check out these Greenhouse Structures.
Cultivate other plants as well
Speaking of wanting your pumpkin patch to still look like a home garden, this can be achieved by simply planting regular domestic garden plant species such as flowers that have nothing to do with food. Some flowers in particular can come to the aid of your food crops by enriching the soil, holding it together, holding it moist, etc.
Planting non-food varieties will also give you that much-needed leeway to take a break from having to look after the food crops, such as in the colder winter months perhaps. You can also consider growing crops like cannabis since it can provide you with an opportunity to start a new business. Growing cannabis crops can be relatively easier and if you actually decide to make it into a small business, you can also employ software for cannabis cultivation so that you can get higher yield and better production.
Planting non-food varieties will also give you that much-needed leeway to take a break from having to look after the food crops, such as in the colder winter months perhaps. In any case, unless your visitors are in themselves avid gardeners who value growing their own food crops, they probably couldn’t tell that the typical vegetable garden is in fact a vegetable garden when none of the vegetables are actually growing.
Keep it watered
Vegetables need a lot of water to grow, but it can be seen as a waste using tap water, especially in areas with high water bills. This is why many gardeners consider getting wells and pumps installed in their area. This can ensure that there are no unnecessary water bills or any shortage of water for household needs. Moreover, getting well pump repair in Monroe, WA, and other places of the world tend to be so convenient and affordable these days, that more people seem to be adopting this idea.
However, other gardeners who do not have space in their garden for a well or pump often turn to rainwater harvesting. It’s free, better for the environment, and comes straight from the sky. All you have to do is collect it. By installing a water butt under your downpipes, you’ll have plenty of water for your vegetables all year long, without ever having to turn the tap on. Just make sure you keep your gutters clear with a company like Clean Pro Gutter Cleaning Hillsboro to ensure your water butt never dries up. Otherwise, your precious veg will wilt!
Make it seasonal
Finally, make your vegetable garden seasonal. In other words, grow veggies that are in-season so that you only have to rely on the natural elements for assistance in growing the produce. When you otherwise have to introduce something like a greenhouse then the amount of effort required is just multiplied.