People are considering what they can do to contribute towards the saving of the environment and the economic situation that is affecting our everyday lives. To this end, a lot of people are beginning to see the benefits that planting a vegetable garden give. Because the size of a vegetable garden in your own backyard is more manageable than the commercial grower's area, there is no requirement to use commercial pesticides or chemical feeds. The majority of commercial growers use pesticides and chemical feeds, polluting the atmosphere and our rivers which in turn harm the environment. Growing your own vegetables enables you to make the decision as to what feeds you use to enhance the growth and the flavour of the produce. The produce is far more flavourful than those grown by commercial growers or purchased from the local markets, supermarket or grocery stores. You can be assured that your produce is fresh, you can pick them as and when you require them. There is no requirement to store them. Whilst in the ground, they remain fresh. Planting a vegetable garden makes economic sense because the produce is certainly not going to be as expensive as those from the local market, supermarket or grocery stores.
The ideal vegetable garden is where you plant a variety of vegetables. It is not wise to keep on growing the same type of vegetable in the same area year after year. The total area designated for vegetables, no matter what the size, should be divided into three or four plots. Rotating the crops mean that they will not be grown in the same area again for another three or four years. Growing them in different areas each year makes sure that the nutrients in the soil are preserved and that the possibility of disease in the soil is reduced. Rotating the crop also means that the following year's crop will benefit from the nutrients left in the soil by this year's crop.
There are vegetables of the same family that should not be rotated because they are susceptible to the same kind of pests. Asparagus, Rhubarb and other perennial vegetables should not be rotated and should be planted separately.
Examples of some of the vegetable families that are safe to rotate together are:
Nightshade Family (Solanaceae) PEPPERS, AUBERGINE, POTATO, TOMATO and CHILLIES
Beans Family (Legumes) STRING BEANS, PEAS and RUNNER BEANS
Carrot Family (Apiaceae) CARROTS, PARSNIPS, PARSLEY, CELERY, FENNEL CORIANDER, DILL and CUMIN
Cole Family (Brassica) CABBAGE, KALE, BROCCOLI, CAULIFLOWER, BRUSSELS SPROUTS, RADISH, TURNIP and ROCKET
Onion Family (Allium) ONIONS, LEEKS, GARLIC, SHALLOTS and CHIVE
Spread out the kinds of vegetables you plant to avoid harvesting too much of the same vegetable in one growing season. Growing too much of the same type can mean that some could be left in the ground to rot. Throughout the growing season plant various types of short season vegetables so that you will have a selection of different types of vegetables throughout the season.
Do your research; plan to get the most out of your vegetable garden. Research what plants go together, don't plant too many of the same type for the whole season. Feed the soil with well-rotted manure, garden compost or peat and you will be able to harvest fresh vegetables throughout the year.
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