Once you taste homegrown vegetables from your very own garden, you won’t want to go back to purchasing produce from the grocery store. Homegrown veggies are crisp, colorful, and delicious. Harvesting vegetables form your own garden is a rewarding endeavor, but it’s important to be knowledgeable about what growing practices will result in the most abundant yield.


Take a look at some of the best and easiest ways to grow a healthy garden and increase your vegetable yield:

Nourish Your Soil


Well-nourished soil promotes a strong and extensive root system. An easy way to add nutrients to the soil in your vegetable garden is by adding organic matter such as compost or leaf mold. Composting is an excellent way to add nutrient-rich humus to your soil. Composting is not difficult and is essentially free. With a few quick steps, you’ll be composting in no time. Composting is one of the best ways to provide the nourishment your home vegetable garden needs.

If you can’t or don’t want to compost, you should consider nourishing the soil in your vegetable garden with an organic fertilizer for vegetables. Vegetable fertilizer can help you provide the appropriate nutrients to your soil, so that your garden grows strong and healthy, while yielding as much as possible. Add about 1 inch of organic material or compost in the winter so that it can incorporate into the soil before spring.

Growing Vegetables in Dedicated Beds


It can be beneficial for your vegetables to grow in beds intended only for your vegetable garden. This way, it maximizes any soil treatment or composting area. A dedicated bed for your home vegetable garden will help you take care of the vegetables and treat the soil with fertilizers, compost, water, or any solution without waste.


Choose Vegetable Plants That Are Suited for the Environment


This may seem obvious when growing vegetables, but do a bit of research and choose vegetables that will grow well in your climate and in your soil type. Collards, kale, spinach, and carrots grow well in cooler climates while sweet potatoes, green beans, hot peppers, and okra are suited for much warmer climates. Soil type should also be considered when deciding what veggies to grow in your home vegetable garden. Lettuce, snap peas, and chard do well in clay soil but onions, garlic, and potatoes do not. Look into which vegetables grow well in shade if the plot of land for your garden is in a shaded area or determine which veggies are better grown in full sun.

Collect Rainwater


Rainwater provides many benefits to veggies and plants of all kinds. Rainwater generally contains fewer contaminants, is softer, and has a pH level that plants prefer. Rainwater is ideal for plant growth and health. Collecting rain water for your home vegetable garden is a great idea as it is easy, and the water can be used when there is a lack of precipitation.


Put the Appropriate Amount of Space Between Veggies


Planting veggies too close together is not advantageous for the plants. You need to do a bit of research to determine how far apart vegetables should be spaced as it varies from plant to plant. If you are growing in a raised bed, you can place plants closer together than you would in a traditional garden.



Pay Attention to Pest Control


Take as many natural measures as you can to prevent pests in your vegetable garden. Tilling organic material into the soil will help prevent pests by cleaning the soil and adding natural elements that help keep pests away. Look for pest resistant seeds, water your garden in the early morning, and control weeds in the garden. Additionally, remove faded blooms and leaves, utilize insect traps if needed, and rotate your crops. For example, some veggies like legumes replenish the soil with nitrogen while others like tomatoes and corn deplete the soil of nitrogen. Rotating crops such as these will help maintain well balanced soil in your home vegetable garden.

Mutually Beneficial Partnership Planting


Planting certain vegetables near each other can increase productivity. Marigolds are a great example of a companion plant. Marigolds are helpful when planted near tomatoes, because they repel nematodes that destroy vegetable roots. Tomatoes and basil are excellent companion plants as basil helps increase tomato yield. Companion planting charts are readily available online and at your local garden center.



Feed Your Plants


Some vegetables can benefit from the application of a vegetable fertilizer or even better, an organic fertilizer for vegetables. Prior to starting your garden, or if your garden does not seem to be producing a healthy yield, you may want to have a soil test. These tests are not expensive and can tell you a lot about what your soil may need. Soil tests can be obtained at your local garden center or you can contact your local cooperative extension office, and they can test your soil for pH and nutrient levels. This soil analysis will let you know exactly what your soil is lacking, so that you can select the best fertilizer for vegetables and plants of all types.

There are a number of effective fertilizers available, but before making your selection, make sure you know what nutrients your soil may need and consider an organic fertilizer. Synthetic fertilizers give plants and instant boost, but are not as advantageous for plants in the long run and can deplete the soil of nutrients.

Conclusion

With a little time and effort, anyone can have a successful home vegetable garden. Whether you have a lot of land and want to grow a sizable garden, or whether you have a raised bed where you are growing your own tomatoes, gardening can be a fun and rewarding experience. Do a little research first, consider the tips and suggestions above, and you’ll be growing delicious vegetables in no time.