How To Start A Vegetable Garden

Mood:  Farm-y

If you have never planted anything in your life, it's best to read on what you want to plant first. Different plants have different needs, and all of them deserve the best care.

For now, here are the basics of starting a vegetable garden;

1. Decide on vegetables than can be grown by beginners. 
A few easy vegetables would be kangkong, kai lan, and lettuce. These vegetables grow easily just by consistent watering and sunlight. When you buy seeds, check the back of the packet and see if the needs of the plants can be easily provided. Does it need to grow on a certain temperature? Is it suitable for the season's weather?

2. Prepare the things needed, and clean up the place for your beginner's veggie garden.

• A plastic or waterproof table
• A waterproof sheet (optional)
• Trays
• Pots (would fit 4 cups or 1 litre)
• Soil
• Seeds
• Labels

(See above photo for arrangement)

3. Start by putting soil inside the pots.

Note that you should not press on the soil to allow some oxygen in. Fill the pots with soil to the top. The soil will go down as you water it later on.

4. Water the soil.

Just enough that the water will reach the bottom of the pot.

5. Plant the seeds.

Depending on the vegetable, there is a need to find out how deep the seeds must be placed in the soil. You need not water the seeds after planting, as the soil will have moisture from the water you put in earlier.

6. Take note of the temperature needed for the particular vegetable, and whether it needs to have sunlight, partial sunlight, less water, or extra water. 

The trays will help plants that need to be in lower temperature during germinating, and or growing period. The water that goes down the pot holes stay a little longer on the trays, keeping the cool temperature. Some vegetables may need the soil to be easily drained. In this case, do not place the pots in a tray.

7. Label your pots.

Make sure you know which seeds are placed in which pot. It also helps to write the needs of the plants (temp. etc.) on the labels.

8. Make sure you pay attention to your plants everyday and they should grow beautifully. :-)

Good luck and happy planting! :-)