Perhaps the best characteristic feature of small farms is the home vegetable garden. Even when there are no fruit trees, and the general surroundings of the home are neglected, a fairly well-kept garden with a large number of vegetables is generally found. In many cases the garden is maintained by member of the household. A small portion of the garden is generally devoted to the cultivation of flowers and a number of medicinal plants. Although conditions around the country dictate the kind and ease of vegetable you grow, people plant what is familiar to them.
It would be impossible to make an accurate estimate of the value of crops grown in the kitchen gardens of the United States, but it can safely be said that a well-kept garden will yield a return ten to fifteen times greater than if the same area was devoted to general farm crops. A fourth acre devoted to the various kinds of garden crops will easily supply a family of four with $1300-$2000 worth of vegetables during the year, while the average return for farm crops is considerably less than one-tenth of this amount. A bountiful supply of vegetables close at hand is more importance than the monetary value.
Fresh vegetables from the home garden are not subjected to exposure at the market (being handled by staff and customers) or in transport. There is less likelihood of contamination, unless you are careless but them you know who to blame. Many vegetables lose their characteristic flavor when not used within a short time after harvest. The home vegetable garden is the best way clean, fresh, nutritious produce are grown..
Gardeners soon see the advantage that long summers and sunny autumns give in the production of a constant succession of produce from the garden. If the garden is kept clean and cropped continuously all the year round, there is a bountiful return all season long. From the time the earliest peas go into the ground up to the time it is necessary to prepare for the following year there can be a constant supply of fresh vegetables. Local gardeners are active in the early spring, utilizing greenhouses, hoop houses, and cold frames to get that early start. With production starting early the enthusiasm of the gardeners wanes as the season progresses and gardening becomes a labor of love.
The thing to remember while gardening is to start small. A small plant bed, about 25 or 30 feet square is perfect (5 feet by 6 feet), is just enough room for about 30 plants. This will give you a chance to try out your green thumb and if you find that you enjoy your garden you can always expand and increase your plantings.
The next thing you will want to do is choose a site. Gardening must be done in an area that gets at least six hours of sunlight. Try and stay away from large trees that will take your plants water and nutrients, and at least three feet from any fences or buildings. In hot climates it is a good idea to choose a place that will have shade for a part of the afternoon sun. It is possible to have a healthy garden with even ten to twelve hours of sunlight, but the type of plants must be adaptable. While soil can always be improved, a site with good soil is a plus. Avoid areas that have rocky soil, steep slopes, or areas where water stands.
Now comes the fun part: start digging. Gardening is not a clean hobby; youre going to have to get some dirt under your nails. First remove the rocks, debris, and any grass and weeds then dig the spot up about one foot deep. Level up the dirt and add compost or minerals if the needed. If your soil is too acidic add lime, if it is too sandy add peat moss, and if it’s alkaline add sulfur. Plants will grow in slightly alkaline to acidic soil with added fertilizer and organic nutrients. Although there are exceptions to this rule.
If you buy seeds then plant them according to the directions. If picking plants, choose ones with green, healthy looking leaves, stems and healthy roots. Put the smaller plants towards the front of the bed and larger ones in the back. The key to a successful beginning in gardening is planting at the right time. Make sure and wait until the frosts are over before planting. If you are planting seeds the package will usually tell you exactly when you can plant them to achieve maximum growth.
Once you have started and gotten into gardening, making sure your plants receive enough water is essential to their growth. Hand watering works well if you only have a few plants. Other options include sprinklers or sprinkler hoses. Watering is more effective during the cooler parts of the day. The amount water depends on the type of plant and soil conditions, but most require about an inch per week. During the hottest periods plants will be need watering about three times per week.
One of the most helpful things to add to a garden is mulch or compost. Just a few inches of organic mulch will improve fertility and help the soil hold moisture. Wood chips, grass clippings, leaves, manure, and pine needles are all things that can be used as mulch.