One of the larger concerns most people have about backyard farming is the size of their yard. They wonder if it’s actually possible to grow enough food to make backyard farming worth the effort. The answer is yes. More and more people are becoming creative about how to grow a huge amount of food in a small space. People are really digging into the idea of growing their own produce. Your backyard farm could be made up of a single large garden bed, or it could be made up of a number of different spaces to grow like square foot gardens, containers or others, perhaps even including animal spaces. Learning what to plant in a garden with vegetables, and how to tend them for the best harvest, is easier than you think. If you plan it right, you can enjoy a beautiful garden full of the fruits of your labor without having to spend hours and hours tending it. Planting a garden that includes vegetables and flowers means you've combined natural companions, and turned a potential eyesore into an attractive landscape feature.
What are the benefits of backyard gardening?
- You can produce diverse, delicious food all the year.
- So much goodness outside your door.
- Nothing looks more beautiful than a garden filled with veggies, fruit and flowers.
- Stress is a fact of our lives. Gardening has been found to be one of the best ways to help alleviate stress, as it gets us out in the fresh air and sunshine by doing some light exercise and keeping us active.
- Backyard gardening is a great way to help kids learn valuable lessons. They can be in the garden observing the animals, insects, and plants growing there and this will help them understand their relationship to the environment and their place in caring for it.
- Your kids and the whole family will value farming skills for a lifetime.
- It lets you control when to harvest your food.
- Vegetables that ripen in the garden have more nutrients than some store-bought vegetables that must be picked early!
- You will be amazed by how much fun gardening can be, and the pride you take in sharing healthy organic food nurtured by your own efforts.
Starting a vegetable garden at home is an easy way to save money. Planting one tomato plant can provide you with 10 pounds of fruit over the course of a season. In almost every case, the flavor and texture of varieties of homegrown vegetables far exceed grocery store produce.
By planting vegetables, you enjoy the pleasure of savoring delicious, sun-warmed tomatoes fresh from your backyard. Plus, growing vegetables can be fun. It's a great way to spend time with children or to get away and spend time outdoors in the sun.
Backyard gardening can inspire you to take an interest in the origins of your food and make better choices about what you eat. Growing your own organic food has many health benefits.
Any plant, if cared for properly, will have a natural resistance to most diseases. This is part of nature and suggests that only organic compounds be introduced to any backyard garden. This includes mulch, compost, and any forms of weed control. Nasty, synthetic substances can weaken the plant's immunities and make them more susceptible to common diseases. When in need of a particular pest control, always shop for the organic variety. Be patient as you cultivate your relationship with your garden and the Earth. Gardening, outdoors or indoors, doesn’t have to be as complicated as it may seem. It is entirely dependent upon what you want to grow and how much gardening you would like to do. When you grow your own food you can oversee the planting, growing, and harvesting which will ensure the best flavor. Being the freshest fruit and veggies you can get, you’re also assured to have the full nutrient value that your food can offer.
Basic Requirements for Success
. Good soil
One of the most fundamental steps of backyard gardening is preparing the soil before planting. If the soil you use is not the right kind or is in poor quality, then it will be much harder to keep a successful garden. Different plants have different soils in which they thrive. That also means that no matter amazing your personal soil is, if the plant is not in the right kind of soil, then it is going to struggle. Many plants placed in the wrong soil will die. Most vegetables do best in moist, well-drained soil that's rich in organic matter, such as compost or peat moss. The soil temperature is also vital in keeping your vegetables alive and well.
. Full sun
Most warm-season vegetables need at least 6–8 hours of direct sun. If they don't get enough light, they won't bear as much and will be more susceptible to attack from insects or diseases. The soil temperature depends on the sun to keep the vegetables going.
. Watering
Vegetables are quick-growing crops compared to trees and shrubs, and consequently, need regular watering, This ensures that all stages of development, from seedling to mature crop are unchecked. The result of providing the right amount of water for crops will result in better crops and healthier plants.
While the idea of growing fruit and vegetables in your own backyard might sound rather taxing, the advantages that come along with it are extremely worth it.
More benefits of backyard gardening
. Eat even healthier
The vitamin and nutrient levels in fruit and vegetables are at their highest when they come straight from your backyard garden.
. Children learn to love gardening
It's wonderful to encourage your children to get outside and get their hands dirty. Children need time for meaningful family connection. Time in the garden allows for team building and promotes communication skills. Planning a garden or planting the seeds and watching them grow give kids a sense of purpose and responsibility. Studies show that when children have contact with soil during activities like digging and planting, they have improved moods, better learning experiences and decreased anxiety.
After all, we are relaxed and having fun, working together in cooperation, and breathing fresh air.
. The impact on the environment
If you decide to grow your produce entirely organically, then the earth’s atmosphere is spared of unnecessary pollution caused by pesticides and herbicides.
. Better taste
Homegrown fruits and vegetables are unanimously preferred when it comes to flavor, so give your taste buds the love it deserves.
. Keeps you fit
Backyard gardening forces you to bathe in sweet vitamin D, and the act of tending to your plants in the warm sun is a great form of daily exercise.
. Awareness
Unlike store bought produce, when you grow your own fruits and vegetables, you are aware exactly what has gone onto and into your food. It’s quite a nice feeling knowing what you and your family are eating.
. A sense of pride
There’s a level of self-satisfaction you obtain when you have successfully grown your own organic fruit and vegetables.
The organic backyard is the perfect starting point for home and community gardeners who want to hone their gardening skills. It covers a wide range of techniques and ideas that will help you boost yield and reduce time spent weeding, watering and fighting pests.
Niki Jabbour, Author of "The Year Round Vegetable Gardener"
Plants like Aloe vera and herbs like Calendula, Chamomile and most vegetables have medicinal properties attached to them, so making them a part of a backyard garden is one way of keeping doctors away!
When growing a backyard vegetable garden, you’ll need to do a bit of preparation, watering, weeding, and harvesting. The whole process is pretty simple and can easily be done in your spare time. So start it today, backyard gardening is worth a try!
This comprehensive guide to homesteading provides all the information you need to grow and preserve a sustainable harvest of grains and vegetables; raise animals for meat, eggs, and dairy; and keep honey bees for your sweeter days. With easy-to-follow instructions on canning, drying, and pickling, you’ll enjoy your backyard bounty all winter long.
Happy Backyard Gardening!
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