Overview of a Kitchen Garden
A kitchen garden provides fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs for healthy meals. The closer your garden is to your kitchen, the easier it is to harvest ingredients whenever needed.
Choosing the Right Spot
Pick a sunny spot that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight daily and drains well. If no water collects after a rainstorm, the soil drains well. Begin with a small garden and gradually expand as you gain experience.
Preparing the Garden Site
You can either plant directly in the ground or build raised beds. Raised beds are ideal for poorly draining soil but require more effort and investment. Remove the grass and weeds first. For small areas, use a spade to cut the sod, but for larger spaces, rent a sod cutter to simplify the task.
Selecting Garden Crops
Choose crops you enjoy eating to increase your chances of success. Start with easy-to-grow salad greens like lettuce, which require little space and maintenance. Culinary herbs such as basil, rosemary, and thyme enhance flavor and diversity. Over time, you can gradually expand your garden to experiment with new varieties.
Planning Your Garden
Create a plan that outlines where and when each crop will be planted, based on its specific needs for space, water, and soil. Decide whether to plant from seeds or buy transplants. While starting from seeds offers a wider selection and lower cost, transplants may speed up the growing process, especially for longer-growing crops like tomatoes.
Caring for Your Garden
Apply mulch to retain moisture and control weeds. Water your garden regularly, especially for young seedlings. Once plants mature, they need about one inch of water per week. Use protective barriers or a garden fence to prevent pests from damaging your crops.
Succession Planting
Maximize your garden’s productivity through succession planting—plant crops in intervals for continuous harvests throughout the season. Add flowers for beauty and to attract beneficial insects, which support healthy plant growth.
source: https://seedmoney.org/blog/kitchen-gardening-101-how-to-grow-your-own-food/
