Dreaming of Harvesting Your Own Vegetables?
With the hot spring weather, Ottawa has been blessed with recently, we know summer is not far away now. The whole city is a peaceful shade of green, covered in pink cherry blossom trees, blooming lilacs, and tulips galore! Now is the time to start your home garden if you haven't gotten the chance yet!
For my gardening beginners out there, we are going to walk you through a simple way to start growing your own produce at home! Gardening is always going to be a learning process. Long-time gardeners change their methods and styles from time to time, it is definitely not an exact science. Keep this in mind as you start this new hobby, you will find what works best in your environment. One thing that always remains true, is the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment that comes with gardening. Knowing where the produce in your kitchen comes from, and how it is grown. You can have the unique experience of going out to your backyard to pick something you have grown and then add it to a recipe you're making! Are you convinced?? Without further a due, let's find out what you will need to start this new and exciting journey!
Soil, Seeds & Care
A garden is made from a few key parts, soil, seeds, and care.
So let's begin with your choice of soil.
SOIL
Your plants are thriving off of the nutrients they are given. This means if you would like successful, luscious growth, you need to feed your plants the good stuff. Look for soils containing plenty of organic matter and compost inside! Now that you have the soil, how should you create a garden space to put it in? Plants need sun, and not just a little. The experts say a thriving vegetable garden should have 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each and every day! So when you are thinking about planting, make sure you have considered this first.
Now you have a choice to make, should you grow a traditional garden or a raised garden?
This truly depends on your environment. If you have a small backyard or you live in an apartment/condo with a balcony, you may opt for a raised garden. This way you can isolate where you want to grow your garden by creating a planter for minimal space disruption. If it is in your budget to create one this is a great option. There are many DIY videos and projects out there which can help you make a plater inexpensively. However, if you have the space, why not make a traditional garden on the ground? You will need to till the area to prepare it for proper growth and perhaps add some compost or extra soil before you start planting your seeds. The traditional garden is a more budget-friendly option for sure and you can start it instantly for free.
SEEDS
Seeds. Seed shopping is a personal choice for sure. Your garden will ideally consist of the foods you most enjoy and purchase weekly. This decision will make the garden more economical. If you are growing what you typically eat you are saving money on groceries! Today you can purchase your favourite seeds online or at your local hardware store! Consult a local planting calender for what grows the best in our Ottawa climate! This guide will help you know when to start your specific seeds indoors and when to bring them outside to plant in your new garden!
CARE
The care of your vegetable garden is a big part of cultivating a successful harvest at the end of the growing season. A big step is proper watering. It is vital to keep your seeds wet during germination. In Ottawa, our summers are very hot, which means you will need to water your garden quite regularly, especially during the initial growing process. Consider a timer-controlled sprinkler if you have a busy schedule to ensure proper watering regularly. Next, remove any weeds from your garden often. It is important to keep these away from your vegetables because as we know, weeds can run rampant through the backyard, and they will do the same in your garden if not taken out. Lastly, add mulch or wood chips to your garden. This is a great way to deter those weeds from growing back. Both are a source of temperature control for your vegetables and it helps keep your soil moist longer!
There you have it! With these handy tips and reminders, you are well on your way to the home vegetable garden you have been dreaming about!
We hope your garden is very successful this summer! If you like this blog send us an email on our website! We would love to hear how your new project goes.
Happy Gardening!
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