There are many joys that go along with gardening, and bringing in the crops of vegetables and fruits for your family to eat can be one of the most rewarding experiences that go along with cultivating your yard. It can seem challenging to get started, but once you are up and running, your work will bring amazing results that will recur year after year.
It is important to choose the right crops to grow in your home garden. First of all, sit down with your family and figure out what you do — and do not — want to grow. You probably won’t want to grow Brussels sprouts if you have kids in your home, because they are likely to hate them and may even sabotage that part of your garden when you are not looking, so they won’t have to eat them. Figure out what everyone wants to eat out of the garden; by getting this buy-in, you will have a group of helpers eager to pitch in with the garden now and then.
It is important to choose the right place for your garden. Do not use the dog run, and do not use the ground right next to the swimming pool. In addition, do not use an area that is mostly covered by your old oak tree. You just won’t get the growth and results that you like. Choose an area that is set apart, and large enough to grow all of the things you want to try. If you don’t choose a hospitable part of your yard for your garden, you will end up wasting a lot of time and effort.
When you are ready, go ahead and till your soil. This is important, so that you can break up existing root systems to give your plant room to grow. You don’t want your new tomato vine competing with St. Augustine grass, which is one of the most ruthless propagating plants out there. Get rid of the competition, and then add some fertilizer to your garden. You may want to go with an organic choice, so that you don’t have to scrub as much poison off your crops as you do when you bring home produce from the grocery store. After you’ve fertilized, it’s time to plant your seeds and wait for them to emerge as seedlings.
Water often — but sparingly. You’ll want to add some water twice a day at the beginning, but just enough to moisten the soil. You don’t have to drop a flood on your plants each day. Just give them enough water to have a drink, and keep an eye on your plants to see how they grow each day. This will help you nurture them effectively.
Now comes the most fun part — pulling your finished crops up and preparing them to feed your family.
Gardening can provide an antidote to the stress of everyday life. Building your own garden, and growing the crops that you love there, will give you a sense of peace.