What Vegetables to Grow
If you’re looking for a way to add a bit of nutritional value, freshness, and flavor to your meals, there is no better way than growing your own vegetables in your garden. Gardening is not just a way to provide delicious food for the table; it can also provide a sense of accomplishment and relaxation.
The best vegetables to grow in your Kitchen Garden
The general management of a vegetable garden, the kind of vegetables grown, and the quantities of each sort, should depend on the requirements of you family and their preference for particular kinds of veg, so there’s no positive or strict rules can be laid down on the subject of what vegetables to grow. I like to be guided on available time, space, freshness and budget.
Where space does not permit the growing of larger or spreading veg, it is necessary to decide which may be most practical to grow. This depends on various considerations, including the likes and dislikes for different varieties, and keeping properties of the different kinds after being harvested, so that when a selection is limited, vegetables in which freshness is an important quality, should be chosen first.
With very few exceptions vegetables are best when used fresh from the garden; some kinds, however, deteriorate much quicker than others, and these are the best sort to start with.
Starting Out with Easy-to-Grow Vegetables
The best vegetables for new gardeners are those that are easy to grow and require minimal care. Some of these include tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, green beans, and lettuces. All of these veggies are easy to plant, don’t require much attention once planted, and have short harvesting times. Tomatoes can be harvested in as little as two months after planting while carrots can take up to three months before they’re ready for picking.
If you want something that takes even less work but still provides lots of flavor and nutrition then consider herbs such as basil or oregano. These plants are also low maintenance since they don’t need much watering or fertilizing once established. Herbs can be used in many different dishes – from soups and stews to salads – giving an extra layer of flavor without added calories or fat.
Top veg to include in your planting
A small patch of Culinary Herbs, such as Sage, Thyme, Mint, Marjoram and Parsley, should not be omitted from your garden planning.
Salad plants, such as Lettuce, Radish, Spring, Onions, and Tomatoes, as well as Spinach and Silver Beet, are not good keepers and always look a little sad in supermarkets. Bags of fresh salad leaves are also really expensive in the shops, yet so easy to grow at home even where space is limited.
Peas and French Beans also lose their flavor and succulence in a very short time, and should be included if possible.
Space permitting, attention can then be given to Cabbage, Cauliflower, and Celery, as well as Root Crops, such as Carrots, Parsnips, Beet and Onions, for bulbing. These latter sorts suffer less than most others for keeping fresh.
Finally, I would then add to my veg to grow list the really expensive produce to buy, like asparagus, berries and currents.
Choosing the Right Spot in Your Garden
When selecting which vegetables to grow in your garden it’s important to pick a spot that receives plenty of sun throughout the day. Most vegetables need at least six hours of direct sunlight per day so make sure the area you choose gets this amount of light on most days during the growing season (spring through fall). This will ensure that your vegetables get the energy they need from the sun’s rays so they can thrive and produce delicious fruits (or veggies!).
Additionally, if possible choose an area that has well-drained soil; this will help prevent any waterlogging or potentially damaging root rot due to overwatering. Compost or manure can also be added prior to planting in order to further enrich the soil with nutrients which will benefit your plants greatly throughout their growth cycle!
Growing your own vegetable garden is a great way to enjoy nutritious food directly from nature’s bounty! With just a few simple steps you can start creating dishes with freshly picked ingredients right from your backyard – plus it’s fun and relaxing too! Choose easy-to-grow veggies such as tomatoes, carrots or green beans; consider adding herbs like basil or oregano for extra flavor; pick an area in your garden that gets plenty of sun; prepare the soil with compost/manure for enriched nutrients; water regularly; mulch if needed; harvest away! With some patience and dedication you’ll soon be enjoying fresh homegrown veggies right at home.
