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8 Things to Remember about Vegetable Gardening

Vegetable Gardening can be a lot of fun. In order for you to become successful in this endeavor, here are 8 things you should always remember.

1. Vegetables need to be planted. This can’t be done just anywhere so study the location. Will crops placed in this area get sufficient exposure to the sun? The definition of sufficient is between 5 to 6 hours daily so if it doesn’t, you better look elsewhere.
2. Let’s say you have found a site that can give you sunlight. Now comes the next thing to be concerned about and that is the condition of the soil. Is the ground deep, well drained and moisture retentive? This can be determined by doing a soil test and if it is not, you can fix this by adding organic compost.
3. You have the ideal site that has fertile soil. The only thing you have to do now is buy the seeds. Some vegetables attract insects while others don’t work well with others. You should find out which ones are good together so they can be harvested and consumed.
4. Now it is time to sow the seeds. When they are being planted, it should be done in rows. Also, you should drop a few extras along the way since some will fail. The soil must be kept moist and you should thin out those that are too small so the others will be able to grow.
5. Sunlight and water alone can only do so much for vegetable gardening. You will need to put a small amount of fertilizer as well. There are different types of these being sold at the store so to avoid making any mistakes, check which one works best with what you are planting and the type of soil in your garden.
6. The number one enemy of the plants is pests. You can protect them by using compost and engaging in crop rotation. Some of nature’s friends can also help like birds, toads and parasitic insects.
7. Another threat to your vegetables is weeds because they can rob the much needed water, light and nutrients from your garden. This will still happen after you have cultivated the soil so get a pair of gloves and pull them out whenever you see them.
8. Lastly, don’t forget to water your vegetables regularly.

Vegetable gardening will be challenging but with the right location, soil and practices, you can succeed and make homemade meals after picking them from your garden.