How to Start your own Vegetable Garden

Has it always been a dream to start your own vegetable garden?

Apart from the increasing cost to eat healthy because of the constant rise in vegetable prices, it is so rewarding to watch your vegetables grow to full size and use them in your meals.

Lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, potatoes – these are vegetables that are used daily in lunches and dinners. Imagine how satisfying it will be to walk outside in the evening to fetch fresh produce from your very own vegetable garden.

Well, there’s no time like the present so take a look at this guide to start your own vegetable garden.

Choose the right spot

If you’ve ever tasted garden-grown vegetables you will know that they are juicier and more vibrant than most store-bought vegetables – plus gardening is a very rewarding hobby!

And it all starts with choosing the right location in your garden to start your very own vegetable patch. A poor location can result in poor tasting vegetables so choose carefully keeping the following in mind:

1. Sunlight

Most vegetables need at least six hours of direct sunlight per day to grow well. However, leafy vegetables will tolerate some shade as the shade protects their leaves.

2. Soil

When planting vegetables, you need your soil to be well-draining and moist. This means that water should not pool up otherwise your vegetables might not grow or will rot before they are ready to harvest.

Be sure to plant your vegetables in a raised bed or row for improved drainage.

If there are lots of rocks and stones in the soil, till the soil to remove them. Rocks will interfere with the growth of the roots and make for weaker vegetable plants.

3. Stable Environment

Avoid planting in areas with strong through-winds or lots of foot traffic. This will only be detrimental for your vegetables in the long haul so be sure to find the location that is just right to start your vegetable patch.

Choose the right plot size

When preparing a plot for your vegetable garden, be sure not to go overboard. Remember that, not only, will your family need to be able to eat all the vegetables that grow but you will also need to maintain this vegetable patch.

Growing a large garden might seem like the best idea but it is better to start off small and learn the ropes than become frustrated with a larger garden.

For a beginner garden, you should aim for 3m long and 11 rows wide. The rows sown will be determined by the type of vegetable seeds that you plant. Be sure to remember to allocate space for paths to reach your plants for harvesting and tending.

If this garden is still too large for your liking, feel free to sow a smaller patch and grow at your own pace.

Choosing the right vegetables

When it comes to choosing vegetables, there are a couple that are typically easier to grow than others such as:

• Lettuce
• Green beans
• Radishes
• Tomatoes 
• Peppers
• Beetroot
• Carrots
• Spinach or Kale
• Peas

But, the growing difficulty is only one factor to consider. Do not forget to think about what your family eats. There is no point in growing vegetables that you and your family will not enjoy or typically cook with.

And – remember – to use the highest quality seeds you can find when planting. Saving money by purchasing low-quality seeds can become expensive in the long run. Seeds need to germinate in order to begin the growth process and higher quality seeds have an increased chance of germinating.

Vegetables by Season

Another factor to consider when starting a vegetable garden is when certain vegetables are in season. Unfortunately, not all vegetables grow year-round and will need to plant at specific times of the year to guarantee growth and produce when needed.

Here is a table showing some of South Africa’s in-season vegetables by season:

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Do you have a vegetable garden?

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