Backyard Organic Vegetable Gardening – Things First Timers Should Consider

gardening
by kk+

Backyard Organic Vegetable Gardening – Things First Timers Should Consider

With food prices continually edging higher and concerns about food contamination by pesticides, genetically modified organisms, and disease-causing bacteria, many people are beginning to think about starting their own backyard organic vegetable gardens. Having an organic vegetable garden can save families potentially hundreds of dollars per year on the grocery bills. First timers often make this decision without taking the time to really plan their gardens and can have somewhat disappointing results. Factors to be taken into consideration include: space available, location, soil quality, labor required, local climate, and what types of vegetables to grow. Before any seed or young plant is planted in the ground it is important to plan out the size, shape, and location of the garden.

The location of a backyard organic vegetable garden should be determined by the amount of sunlight the site gets per day. Most vegetables require 5 to 7 hours of full sunlight per day to truly thrive and produce, anything that will cast a shadow over the garden will limit productivity. The amount of space that is available will determine the size of the garden. Another consideration is soil drainage, since vegetables planted in a site that does not drain well may be subject to root rot after a substantial rain or accidental over-watering.

The quality of the soil for a backyard organic vegetable garden must be determined since topsoil is often removed or destroyed during the process of homebuilding, especially in subdivisions. Clay and sandy soils can be amended with topsoil and organic compost, although clay will require much more tilling and effort to work in the topsoil and compost. Clay soils do not allow water to percolate down and can sometimes inhibit drainage, so that would be a factor to consider. Rocky soils can raise havoc with tillers and garden tools. It is also important to test the soil for pH, as most vegetables thrive in a neutral soil, although some do better in a slightly more acidic soil and very few do really well in a very alkaline soil. Testing kits are available or a local cooperative extension may assist with soil testing. Sometimes the backyard soil is just too poor and requires too much amending to support a backyard organic garden. In such cases many people choose to work with raised bed gardens where they can better control the quality of the soil and the amount of effort required to get started. There can be higher upfront costs, but could well be worth it in terms of time and effort expended.

Before choosing what vegetables to plant, backyard organic vegetable gardeners must also take into account the local climate, as that will affect how well the vegetables grow and produce. Although most vegetables will grow just about anywhere, some may have different planting times. Some may require longer in a grow box or greenhouse to get a better head start before being planted in the garden and may not grow as large or produce as much over the season. Once again, a local cooperative extension or reputable nursery will know what vegetables are best suited to the local climate and information is readily available in books, magazines, and on the internet.

How much of which vegetables to grow definitely needs to be planned. Often first time organic vegetable gardeners plant more of some varieties than can be easily used by the family and shared with neighbors and friends. Excess produce can often be shared with a local food bank or organizations that feed the hungry. How much time can be devoted to the garden – weeding, checking for and getting rid of pests, etc. – during the growing season, as well as harvest time, must be considered.

Backyard organic vegetable gardeners, especially first timers, need to do some upfront thinking about their garden before they ever put spade to earth. Autumn is a great time to begin planning for the spring planting season, and doing the necessary research.

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