The time has come to start your own vegetable garden. With these tips, you’ll be growing your own vegetables in no time! There’s nothing better than getting your hands in the soil.
If you’re just getting started, it’s smart to begin with easy vegetables: lettuce varieties, zucchini, carrots, radishes, spinach, and Swiss chard. These require little maintenance.
Prepare the soil well. It should no longer be frozen or overly wet. Loosen the top layer with a rake and level the ground. Keep it manageable by starting small.
The deeper you plant a seed, the more likely it is to rot. Vegetable seeds generally don’t need to be planted deep. The rule of thumb: plant a seed at a depth equal to its length. So if a seed is 2 cm long, sow it 2 cm deep.
You can also start vegetables indoors in trays or pots. Once the seedlings have two pairs of leaves, they should be transplanted—each into its own pot. Water potted vegetables using a dish under the pot to allow bottom watering.
Two-thirds of vegetables grown within 10 meters of a busy road exceed European lead limits. If you live in a city, it’s advised to carefully choose the location of your garden. The risk of contamination is lowest in spots far from traffic, or shielded behind buildings and hedges. Gardens near train tracks pose little risk.
Enjoy your harvest!