Have you ever imagined having spices, vegetables and fruits ready to be consumed at home? Many may feel that having a vegetable garden it’s hard work and requires a lot of experience, but we’re here to prove otherwise.
The habit that spread during the pandemic and became a trend, remains today, also serving as a tool for learning and well-being – once you disconnect from technology, you get closer to nature and can even use horticulture as a form of occupational therapy!
A ISLA Seeds brought some tips in partnership with the agronomist Amanda Inoue to help you who want to learn how to set up a vegetable garden at home:
How to start and how to make it work?
Identify the andspaces available for cultivation, which have favorable conditions for the seedlings of interest, and choose the place where the garden will be made. Think about some details: would you like to plant indoors or outdoors? Is there space available for direct cultivation in the ground or would it be in pots? What is the availability of sunlight?
Dedication and care are fundamental for it to work, such as understanding the needs of the species in terms of light, watering, fertilization, pest and disease control, space for development and the best growing season. In addition to making use of quality products.
What factors should I take into account when choosing the location?
For the production of vegetables it is important to take into account the amount of direct natural lighting in the environment, that is, for how many hours there will actually be sunlight falling on the leaves of the plants. Give preference to spaces that receive at least 4 hours daily, because it is through photosynthesis that they will have a good development.
If you are going to make the garden directly on the ground, choose light textured soils with good drainage for good root growth. If you use vases, it is important to invest in substrates that have these same characteristics.
Which species are easy to grow?
Start with types that don’t require a lot of care, have a fast development cycle and can bring results in a few weeks – like radish, arugula, lettuce, parsley, chives, cilantro, mint and basil. Planting these varieties can be done all year round.
How to germinate seeds?
After choosing the species, decide how you will insert them into your garden – seedlings, cuttings or seeds. For the last option, check if the season matches the recommended period for your region. Plantings carried out outside the “sowing window” may not progress or have greater difficulties in the cycle.
And there are different ways to germinate. Some seeds don’t require a lot of work, they just need a place with a good quality substrate, light and that allows for good rooting. Keeping the soil moist, without soaking it, is fundamental for them to start the process of germination and emission of the first structures.
This process can be done in “seed trays”, bags, vases, reuse containers (bottles, pots, cans, among others) or directly in the definitive space. Some types, such as carrots, must be sown directly in the substrate or in a definitive vase – avoiding transplanting the seedlings, as the roots have already started their development.
My seeds do not germinate, what did I do wrong?
Each seed is a living being and within them is the embryo. If they have not gone through good storage conditions or have been grown outside of ideal standards, they may not germinate.
The main mistakes when sowing are: burying too much, causing the plant not to be able to emerge from the earth and dying; lack or excess of moisture in the germination stage, causing collapse of structures; planting outside the recommended season.
Which species to invest when there is no sun?
the cultivation of microgreens it is a vegetable garden solution in small spaces or where there is no sunlight. It is made in trays, vases or other containers using soil, moistened paper or vegetable fibers that serve as a base for the seeds.
Between 7 and 14 days the seedlings appear to be consumed, with their rich flavor, color and nutrients. There are dozens of varieties for harvesting microgreens: arugula, basil, parsley, chives, turnips, watercress, chard, chicory, cabbage, radish, beets, carrots, among others.
What is the best vegetable for the apartment garden?
In apartments they are normally used vases, therefore, it is important to choose vegetables that are easy to adapt to this environment. Lettuce, arugula, chives, spinach, basil are options.
If you have the possibility to place the container in an environment that has space for vertical development, tomato, cherry and cucumber can also be considered. Deeper pots also allow carrots, beets and radishes to grow inside apartments.
How to fertilize and supply nutrients?
O fertilizer it is the food of the plant, which contributes directly to its development. The ideal time for fertilization to occur is in the phases where it demands more energy – seedlings, growth, development, flowering and fruit maturation.
For the production of tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins and peppers, for example, it is essential to fertilize during the beginning of the reproductive period, during the flower formation and development phases. This way we avoid floral abortion and small and tasteless fruits.
In general, seedlings “feed” through the roots, therefore, providing nutrients so that they come into contact with their root system is essential, which can be through mixtures in the substrate before planting and also after established vegetation.
They can be solid (granules, crumbs, powder) or liquid (along with the water used for watering), some can also be sprayed on the leaves using sprayers. In practice, you must read the labels of the products you purchase and follow the instructions for use (dosage, frequency of application, etc.).
Avoid applying more than the recommended dose so as not to saline the soil or burn the plants.
How to identify disease?
The most common diseases are caused by fungi, bacteria and viruses. In the garden, to identify that a species is sick, it is necessary to observe if it is different from the others, perhaps more yellow, with twisted, stained leaves and, in more severe cases, withered.
How to fight pests?
Always seek the balance of the environment you are cultivating for the insects that will help you naturally fight unwanted pests, as they feed on them. Another way is to plant types that have repellent properties of insects and pests, such as Tagetes.
What to do when seedlings are sick?
At the first symptoms of the disease, make use of some control mechanism, preferably natural or biological, such as antagonistic Trichoderma organisms or symbionts such as Mycorrhizae. Plant extracts or essential oils are other alternatives.