When looking to create a vegetable patch in your garden, their several steps you should follow. Finding the right spot, planning your space, and making sure your soil nutrients are healthy are all factors to consider.
If you can’t find the right balance, this article covers some basic tips on making a vegetable patch, but you will need to do some additional research about the planting process itself.
To get you started, here’s how to create your own vegetable patch:
Find the right spot
If you have a large garden, then choosing the ideal vegetable patch space should be fairly easy. If your garden is small, it might be more difficult, but not impossible.
Asking for permission to dig up a patch of the garden could be a solution for those living in rented properties. However, building or buying raised beds is the easiest method. Raised beds work well in any garden because they are tidy and easy to maintain, even though they are more expensive.
Placing raised beds or digging a patch in an area that gets sunlight for a good portion of the day is important. Plants need light to grow, so if your garden is always shady, then you might need to reconsider growing options.
Research different plants and what they like and you’ll learn what works best for your garden.
Check soil quality
Checking soil quality is a priority. That’s because soil health is integral to vegetable growth. If it’s too stony, then the plants won’t grow big enough; too weedy, and vegetables may become malnourished.
You should check your soil nutrients before you start digging, as this could influence your vegetable patch placement. The soil checking process is slightly challenging, but necessary stage of garden planning, unless you’re installing a raised bed of course.
Test for clay, sand, rock levels, and depth capabilities. You need to know what type of soil you have to resolve any imbalances. For example, clay and sand-filled soil will need to be blended with rich compost and topsoil.
Checking to see if there is a strong worm population is beneficial as worms help to create healthy soil. You can, if necessary, also check soil pH levels using a home test kit. If your soil is too acidic or too alkaline, you’ll be able to adjust it with a compost combination.
Design your growing space
Once you’ve chosen a patch and tested your soil, you can sit down with a pencil and paper and get drawing. Sketch out what shape you want your beds to be and where you want to grow certain crops. At this stage, you can start buying the seeds and plants you’d like to grow.
If you don’t know anything about crops, you should read up about the plants you want to grow. Some crops prefer full sun, others like shady patches, and some can’t grow in the same place every year.
Prepare plot space and soil
If you’re creating a raised bed, then get building and filling with bought compost and topsoil. If making a ground patch, then get digging!
You should make sure your beds are at least a foot deep to enable root growth. Crops like carrots and parsnips especially need enough room to grow. Once you’ve dug the bed and removed any weeds and rocks, you can start tilling the soil.
Just be careful of those worms! When this is done compost, topsoil, or even manure can be added and your beds will be ready for planting. Before you start sowing, remember that every plant works differently, so do your research first.
