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Vegetable gardening

By Sereba Agiobu-Kemmer
30 March 2019   |   3:47 am
Growing up years Growing up in suburban Lagos, our home had two distinct gardens; the front and back gardens. While the front garden was purely ornamental filled with perennial and annual beds and exotic specimen plant such as the traveller’s palms,the backyard garden was mainly a vegetable garden, that boasted not only vegetables but had…
Tomatoes

Tomatoes Garden.<br />Photo:Pixabay

Growing up years
Growing up in suburban Lagos, our home had two distinct gardens; the front and back gardens.

While the front garden was purely ornamental filled with perennial and annual beds and exotic specimen plant such as the traveller’s palms,the backyard garden was mainly a vegetable garden, that boasted not only vegetables but had herbs that were for culinary and medicinal use. There were bananas, plantain trees and root crops such as yams, potatoes, cocoyams.

Small fruit trees such as citruses, pawpaw, guava, sugarcanes, pineapple and maize, all of which we loved to harvest. There was a small chicken poultry which provided manure for the vegetable beds.

Organic composting was always on-going at a far end corner of the backyard, using the waste from end of seasons plants harvests and suitable kitchen wastes and egg shells.

This organic compost was always available to replenish old beds and to prepare new ones in both the front and back gardens. There was always fresh and flavorful produce for us to eat, to cure minor ailments.

Both gardens gave us the opportunity to appreciate and develop gardening skills which at the time one didn’t realize because as kids we had so much fun and a favorite hobby.

It has become a lifelong passion ! In these days and age the advantages of having your own vegetable garden. It cuts down drastically on the grocery bills.

Futhermore a garden filled with beautiful, productive plants provides a terrific sense of accomplishment- fabulous, fresh meals.

Do you dream of a backyard filled with delicious dinner ingredients but don’t know where to begin? Maybe you’ve been gazing at that perfect patch of sunny space in your yard but worry that turning it into a vegetable garden will be a difficult chore.

Forget your worries and start planning your menus, because creating a vegetable garden can actually be a pretty simple process! Here’s what to do.

1. Choose the right location.
First, select a space that’s fairly level and drains well, as your plants will be unhappy in standing water. Choose a location near the house, if possible.

The more visible the garden, the more likely you’ll be to spot any problems like droopy plants or pest-eaten leaves early on, giving you time to handle them before they get out of control.

A garden located near the house or walkway also makes it easier to quickly harvest a handful of herbs when you’re cooking or to pluck ripe tomatoes and peppers at their prime.

When selecting your site, look for a space that receives six to eight hours of full sun. Most vegetables and fruit, like peppers, tomatoes, and melons, need full sun to thrive and produce bountiful harvests.

If your space is only partly sunny, don’t despair—you can still grow crops like lettuce, variety of leafy vegetables we love to prepare our “soups’(or stews, curries, sauces0, and many herbs.

Know, too, that the amount of sunlight the space receives might vary during the year. A garden space that’s full sun in December harmattan season, may turn into a shady spot once the deciduous trees leaf out in the raining season.

Also, locating your vegetable garden near a water source will make your life much easier.

Gardens need about an inch of water each week, and during dry periods, you’ll need to assist Mother Nature in watering the garden. When that happens, you won’t want to have to drag a hose across the lawn.

Think about garden size, too. If you’re a new gardener, you may want to keep your first garden relatively small.

Finally, remember that existing shrubs, trees, or other plants near the garden will compete with your vegetables and herbs for water and nutrients. Also, avoid planting near large mango trees, which contain a toxin that kills vegetable plants.

2. Create the design
Once you’ve selected a site for your vegetable garden, spend a little time envisioning how you’d like it to look.

Measure the space and use graph paper to plot out the dimensions. If it covers a sizable area, divide it into beds that are no wider than four feet so you can reach across to plant, weed, and harvest without having to step on the soil. Be sure to leave space for paths between the beds, and make them wide enough to accommodate a wheelbarrow.

3. Choose your plants.
Next, think about what you want to grow. Make a list of vegetables and herbs you like to eat and add them to your garden plan, paying attention to how much space each individual plant will need.

If you plan to grow peas, pole beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, or other vining plants, sketch in trellises or cages to support them. (Make sure to place these where they won’t shade other crops.) Place crops that spread—like pumpkins and watermelons—where they can grow out onto the grass and not take over the entire garden.

Find the best tomatoes, peppers, vegetables and herbs for your needs and your garden, And don’t forget to add some flowers to your plan that will help draw pollinators!

4. Remove the existing lawn.
Now it’s time to head outside to your garden area. Measure out your garden beds according to your plan, then outline them by sprinkling some flour or placing stakes in each corner and attaching strings between them.

Once you’ve outlined your space, rake it to remove any debris. Then, remove the grass (and any rocks or sticks you dig up) with a sod cutter or sharp spade.

5. Build the soil.
You may think you’re ready to plant, but there’s one more important thing to do first: Improve the soil. Strong, healthy plants need good soil to thrive and produce well, and your existing soil may not be rich enough to support your garden.

The easiest way to improve your soil is to mix a few inches of compost in with the existing dirt to both improve the texture and add just the right nutrients to get your plants off to a strong, well-fed start. (Bonus: It will also help protect against over- and under-watering.) Another option if you’re feeling ambitious, do a soil test and follow the instructions for adding amendments.

6. Set out your plants.
When you’re ready to plant, choose healthy, vigorous plants for your garden.

Set your plants out according to your garden plan, then check each plant tag to see how deep to plant it. Dig holes, place plants in the holes at the right depth, then fill in around the plants with soil.

Gently press down around the base of each plant and water well to remove air pockets and settle the soil. After all of your plants are in their new home, add a layer of mulch around the plants to help the soil retain moisture.

7. Maintain your new vegetable garden.
Congratulations—you’ve created a vegetable garden! Of course, you’ll need to do a little maintenance during the growing season to help your plants along:
Check the soil regularly to see if you need to water.

Stick your finger about an inch into the soil. If the soil feels dry, it’s time to water. Aim toward the base of each plant to avoid splashing water on the leaves, which can lead to disease.

Keep an eye on the surrounding lawn to ensure it doesn’t start creeping back into the garden beds. Also, remove weeds frequently so they don’t steal water and nutrients from your plants.

No matter how nutrient-rich your soil is at the beginning of the season, give them regular helpings of compost to help plants grow strong and deliver a big harvest.

Aren’t you glad you dug up that bit of lawn and created your own vegetable garden? Soon, you’ll be growing so much produce that you’ll have plenty to share with friends and neighbors. Enjoy the harvest!

Keep an eye out for pests and take care of them as soon as you see them. A strong stream of water can remove aphids and hand-picking worms (like cabbageworms or tomato hornworms) is easy.

Now comes the best part—harvesting and savoring your delicious crops!
Aren’t you glad you dug up that bit of lawn and created your own vegetable garden? Soon, you’ll be growing so much produce that you’ll have plenty to share with friends and neighbors. Enjoy the harvest!

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