The kitchen garden is back. After a brief hiatus – and a handful of questionable Instagram trends – the kitchen garden is making its comeback. Thanks to the Internet, it’s easier than ever before to find blogs on the subject, DIY videos, and even starter kits that let you get started with minimal fuss.
Plan your space
Step one is to make sure that you have the space ready for your kitchen garden. This could be a small corner of a wall or one of the smaller windowsill spaces in your kitchen. A kitchen garden’s success relies on how practical it is to grow in your space. You may want to line the walls with plastic or paint the walls white, depending on your design and style.
Make sure that you can reach all parts of your space, and that you can easily access the plants (and any harvesting tools). You’ll also want to think about how you’ll get to your garden. Will you be able to reach the plants easily with a watering can? Is there a way to easily grab the product without getting your hands dirty? If you have a small child in the house, it can be a good idea to put a raised bed in the corner of the room, so that both you and your child can reach the produce.
Start with soil
Before you can plant a single seed, you’ll need to get the soil ready. Soil is the lifeblood of your growth operation and you want to make sure you have the right sort. You’ll want to start with good soil, but you don’t want it to be too heavy or clay-like. You’ll also want to make sure you have easy access to a sink or large bucket so that you can easily wash your hands and tools.
There are several reasons why you want to start with good soil. Good soil is rich with nutrients that your plants need to grow and flourish. A great study from Cornell University found that organic gardening produces a whopping 74% more food than traditional gardening techniques.
Plant your first crop
If you’ve done your groundwork well, you’ve got some great soil in place. Now it’s time to plant your first crop. What you plant and how you plant is completely up to you, as long as it’s something that will grow in your climate. In general, vegetables, herbs and flowers that are native to your area will generally produce better, longer-lasting yields.
Sometimes it’s worth experimenting with heirloom varieties that are known for their long-lasting, heavy yields. You’ll also want to make sure you have your irrigation system set up so that you can easily water your plants.
Add some heirloom flowers
Now that the veggies are sprouting, it’s time to add some flowers. There are a variety of heirloom flowers that are known for their long-lasting, heavy yields. Here are some examples: You can add heirloom flowers to your garden at any time of the year, as long as you’re not planning on harvesting them before fall. Take care not to over-water these flowers, as they don’t need as much water as other crops.
Keep up-to-date with seasonal work and eat fruit or veggies.
If you’ve done your homework, your garden is growing! You’ll want to make sure you keep an eye on the plants and take care of any pests or diseases. Once a season passes, you’ll want to make sure that you’re harvesting the produce. It’s important to note that while you can eat a lot of the produce you grow, you’ll get the best nutritional value from what you harvest in the summer months.
As far as harvesting goes, you’ll want to decide whether you want to harvest fresh produce or dry the product and use it later. If you’re harvesting fresh produce, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got it all picked before frost hits.
Get creative with herbs and spices
There are several herbs and spices that you can grow in your kitchen garden. Here are a few to get you started:
- Basil – This herb is great for pest control, as it’s a natural insecticide. – It also boosts the immune system and is good for lowering blood pressure. – You can use basil as a pest repellent by placing a pot of basil on your doorstep.
- Bay Leaves – These are a great way to add a little extra flavour to your meals. – You can also add bay leaves to your compost pile to add natural pest control.
- Cilantro – This is a great herb for adding a flavour kick to your meals. – You can also use cilantro as a natural insect repellent and in your organic garden, cilantro can be used as a natural weed barrier.
- Cinnamon – Adding cinnamon to your diet is great for natural blood sugar control. – If you have a compost pile, you can add cinnamon to your compost to boost its health.
- Coriander – This herb can be used as a natural pesticide and herbicide. – When you’re growing your veggies and fruits, you can also use coriander to add natural pest control.
- Fennel – Fennel is great for cleaning your digestive system and is also a natural diuretic. – It can be used in organic gardening as a natural pest repellent.
- Ghee – Ghee, or clarified butter, is an age-old way to add a little extra flavour to your meals. – Ghee is a great source of vitamin A, which promotes healthy skin and eyes.
- Turmeric – This is a natural anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. – It can also be used as a natural insect repellent.
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