organic vegetable gardening tips

21 Easy Vegetables and How to Grow Them

February 9, 2010 by Vegetable7 12 Comments

Still trying to decide which vegetables to grow this spring?

Take a look at this list of 21 vegetables for some ideas.

1. Snap Beans

Snap beans take 40 to 65 days to mature. Plant seeds 1 inch deep, and thin them so that the plants are 6 inches apart. Learn more on our How to Grow Beans page.

2. Lima Beans

Lima beans take 90 to 100 days to mature. Plant them 1 1/2 inches deep, and thin them so that they are 6 yo 8 inches apart. Learn more about growing lima beans.

3. Beets

Beets take 60 to 85 days to mature. Plant the seeds about twice as deep as the seed diameter. Thin them so that they are 2 to 4 inches apart. Learn more about growing beets.

4. Carrots

Carrots take 55 to 80 days to mature. Plant the seeds twice as deep as the seed diameter. Thin them so that they are 3 inches apart. Learn more about growing carrots here.

5. Cabbage

Cabbage takes 65 to 100 days to mature. Plant the seeds twice as deep as the seed diameter. Thin them so that they are 24 to 30 inches apart. Learn more about growing cabbage here.

6. Corn

Corn takes 70 to 115 days to mature. Plant the seeds 1 inch deep. Thin them so that they are 10 to 12 inches apart. Learn more about growing corn here.

7. Cucumbers

Cucumbers take 60 to 75 days to mature. Plant the seeds 1/2 an inch deep. Thin them so that they are 10 inches apart on a wire or trellis, or about 4 feet apart if you are doing them on hills. Learn more on our How to Grow Cucumbers page.

8. Eggplant

Eggplant takes 70 days to mature. Plant the seeds twice as deep as the diameter of the seed. Thin them so that they are 36 inches apart. Learn more about growing eggplant here.

9. Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi takes 55 days to mature. Plant the seeds twice as deep as the diameter of the seed. Thin them so that they are 3 inches apart. Learn more about growing Kohlrabi at this site.

10. Lettuce

Lettuce takes 50 to 75 days to mature. Plant the seeds twice as deep as the diameter of the seed. Thin them so that they are 4 to 18 inches apart. Learn more about growing lettuce on our How to Grow Lettuce page.

11. Okra

Okra takes 60-75 days to mature. Plant the seeds twice as deep as the diameter of the seed. Thin them so that they are about 15 inches apart. Learn more about how to grow okra here.

12. Onions

Onions can take anywhere from 35-100 days to mature. You want to thin onion seeds so they are about 6 inches apart. Learn more about growing onions on our How to Grow Onions page.

13. Parsnip

Parsnips take 110 days to mature. Plant the seeds twice as deep as the diameter of the seed. Thin them so they are about 4 inches apart. Learn more about how to grow parsnips here.

14. Peas

Peas take 60-80 days to mature. Plant the seeds an inch deep into the soil. Thin them so they are 3-4 inches apart. Learn more on our How to Grow Peas page.

15. Peppers

Peppers take 75 days to mature. Plant the seeds twice as deep as the diameter of the seed. Thin them so they are about 30 inches apart. Learn more on our How to Grow Peppers page.

16. Potatoes

Potatoes take 75-100 days to mature. Plant the seeds 3 inches into the ground. Thin them so they are 12 inches apart. Learn more about growing potatoes at this website.

17. Radishes

Radishes take 30-45 days to mature. Plant the seeds twice as deep as the diameter of the seed. Thin them so they are 1 inch apart. Learn more about growing radishes on this website.

18. Spinach

Spinach takes 55 days to mature. Plant the seeds twice as deep as the diameter of the seed. Thin them so they are 4 inches apart. Learn more about growing spinach on this website.

19. Summer Squash

Summer squash takes 65 days to mature. Plant the seeds a half inch below the soil. Thin them so they are 48 inches apart in hills. Learn more about growing summer squash on our How to Grow Summer Squash page.

20. Tomatoes

Tomatoes take 65-80 days to mature. Plant the seeds twice as deep as the diameter for the seed. Thin them so they are in rows 30 inches apart, using four foot spacing in the rows. Learn more about growing tomatoes on our How to Grow Tomatoes page.

21. Turnips

Turnips take 60 days to mature. Plant the seeds twice as deep as the seed diameter. Thin them so they are three inches apart. Learn more about how to grow turnips on this website.

Conclusion

So there you go. 21 different vegetables. 21 quick summaries on how to grow them. And 21 links to sources for more in depth information.

What are you planting this season?

5 Tips on How to Grow Vegetables

May 11, 2009 by Vegetable7 1 Comment

Let’s face it: growing a vegetable garden rocks! So much, it could even become your hobby. Just think, every growing season you can harvest fresh vegetables. And remember, there are several growing seasons, depending on your climate. That’s almost growing your own food year round! Here are some simple tips that will help you on how to grow vegetables.

Tip #1: Rotate your crops.

Just change your plant’s growing location each year. Plants that come from same family like peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, and potatoes must be rotated in different locations in the garden. Rotating them will prevent your plants from pests and diseases.

Bugs are pretty smart. They lay their eggs at the bottom of the plant, so the hatching larvae will have food. But, the garden pest will not survive if it doesn’t have the right food source. Just rotate those crops every year. That way you don’t feed the larvae!

Tip #2: Plant your vegetables with proper spacing.

Don’t plant vegetable plants too close to each other. You don’t want their roots to compete for soil nutrients and water, and you want enough room for their hidth and width of a mature plant. It’s easier if you plant your vegetables according to their height and width.

Once you get use to growing vegetables, you can stray from the vegetable spacing recommendations just a little. Check out this page on intensive gardening, and this one on square foot gardening.

Tip #3: Water plants properly, meaning consistently.

We all know that water is very important in all growing plants, really to everything! It starts with the seeds. They must keep moist to generate properly. And make sure not to over water your plants, or else you will not achieve the desired outcome with your vegetable plants. Just water deeply and regularly. You don’t want to underwater, then overwater. Trust me, they won’t like that.

Tip #4: Stake your vegetable plants.

There are plants that cannot support themselves, like vine tomatoes, cucumbers, peas and pole beans. Provide a cage, stake, or trellis that will help keep them off the ground. Keeping vegetables off the ground, keeps them from getting dirty, rotting, or getting pests.

Tip #5: Mulching is a great tip, too.

Don’t forget to mulch. Mulch comes in many forms. It will serve as a protective covering that will also reduce evaporation, maintain the soil temperature, enrich the soil, and prevent it from weeds.

Vegetable gardening is a wonderful idea! Plus, at the end you can reward yourself for achieving the successful garden you’ve wanted. Aside from that, you’re also giving your family the best vegetables in the town! Sit back on that patio, slice that tomato, and enjoy looking over your vegetable garden!

Achieving Successful Vegetable Gardening

May 11, 2009 by Vegetable7 Leave a Comment

We all want to save even a single cent on buying foods at the market, right? Especially nowadays with the economic situation. One way to save more money, with the consideration of quality and nutrients your family must have, is to have your own vegetable garden.

Before you plant, think of the variety of vegetables your family enjoys eating. It would be a good start for choosing the right seed for the right season. Consider the following information on planning a vegetable garden.

Sun light is very important when growing plants. The usual required range per day of sunlight is about 6 hours, but there also some plants that need 8 hours. Also, maximize your vegetable garden space by planting quick growing plants, such as, radish and lettuce in between other vegetables, that take a while to mature (example: beet and corn).

During dry season, be sure to water your plants more often. Keep in mind that plants benefit from an inch of water every week, most especially during there stage of fruiting.

Watch out for pests and other insects that may destroy your vegetables. You have a better chance of saving your vegetable plants, if you found out about it earlier. Unless it is absolutely necessary, do not use pesticides or insecticides with chemicals. It will affect the quality of your vegetables. Since organic gardening uses environment friendly methods, use organic pesticides or insecticides. It’s safer for you, and your food.

Taking care of your vegetables, also, means protecting them from wandering animals. You can build a fence that will serve as protection for your garden from your pets like cats, dogs, rabbits and others. The damage done from those wandering animals could be equal to the amount it costs to build a fence. Especially, when you consider how much work you do in the garden. Plus, fences double as a great trellis or support for growing peas, beans, tomatoes and other crops.

To achieve the plentiful vegetable garden, protect your plants. After all, you want your hard work to be rewarded with a successful vegetable garden.

Vegetable Gardening for Dummies

May 11, 2009 by Vegetable7 1 Comment

There’s an obvious difference from eating a home-grown vegetable from your garden compared to those you usually buy at the grocery store. Fresh harvest vegetables are much sweeter and juicier! You really can’t resist them!

Beginners in vegetable gardening should know these five simple tips to get started:

Choose only those vegetables you like to eat. Vegetables which are obviously tastier and less expensive such as green and yellow beans, carrots, peas (both shelling and snow type), peppers, spinach, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, and summer squash can be grow in you backyard– easily, in fact.
Grow vegetables that cost a lot of money in the market. Greens used in salads, such as, mesclun or arugula are pretty pricey. Asparagus is another pricey vegetable, but it will take a few years to get an asparagus bed established, so plan ahead!
Plant vegetables that aren’t easily available, like heirloom tomatoes (Brandywine). The are many kinds of plant that you can grow in your garden you cannot find in the grocery store. Yet, another reason to grow your own vegetables. Products that are intended to ship, are picked early. In your garden, vegetables can ripen on the vine, adding perfect flavor.
The garden spot you choose must be level (unless you terrace it or use hill gardening methods) and have at least six to eight hours of sunlight everyday. Make sure the spot is close to your water source. And, choose a spot that is closer to your house, making tending to it much easier.
Start small! Beginning gardeners become frustrated due to over planting. Keep it small. I suggest you plant a tomato, and at the same time try planting chives, parsley and basil into a half-barrel near your kitchen door. Tomatoes need 3 feet square space each.

How to grow Vegetables? It’s easy!

May 11, 2009 by Vegetable7 Leave a Comment

Nowadays, vegetable gardening is becoming more and more popular. Some think it’s difficult but they are absolutely wrong! Vegetable gardening is easy! You’ll no longer worry if you bought the freshest vegetables in town. Plus, you could easily grow a harvest or kitchen garden, so you have the tastiest and healthiest vegetables. That is, if you take care it the right way.

You should decide, first,the size and spot for your vegetable garden. Consider a site that has good drainage, good soil, and enough sunlight that your vegetables need. Soil should be tilled properly (depending on your gardening method), and mixed with compost. Just make sure that the soil is healthy. Adding compost or organic matter, will give the soil the quality you need.
Another important thing in vegetable gardening , is the garden format. The most common arrangement is to plant vegetables that needs limited space together. Why not try planting short growing plants in front of the backyard while tall growing plants at the back of it so that sunlight would not be block by those tall growing plants? Just be aware, not to shade your short growing plants.
Finally, when you are ready to begin your planting, be sure that you plant the right vegetables at the right time. After planting the seeds, make sure that you are giving the right amount of water. This will depend on the type of the vegetable you are planting. Most plants must have an equal to about an inch of water per week. Check with your local extension agency to see what’s going to grow best in your area.

Folks love vegetable gardening! Partly, because they can literally taste the goodness of their own labor in the flavor of the vegetables. And, vegetable gardening is not expensive to start. Vegetables from the market can’t even compare to the freshness and sweet taste of vegetables from your own garden. So, why not start your vegetable garden? It’s easy!

Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips for Beginners

May 10, 2009 by Vegetable7 1 Comment

Organic vegetable gardening had been around for a long time. There are people who practice organic methods, but are unaware that they’re actually organic gardening. Growing plants without using any artificial chemicals, like fertilizers and pesticides, is known as organic gardening.

When you garden organically, you can make sure that you only feed the best vegetables to your family. Plus, you can cut your food budget without compromising the quality. Aside from that, you don’t need to spend more money to buy those artificial chemicals for your vegetable garden.

Composting is a lot better than the usual fertilizer you buy at the gardening store. You will also need to protect your plants from harmful effect that an industrialized chemical could do. That’s one advantage of organic gardening. They don’t harm your plants because they are purely natural and don’t contain chemicals that may harm the immune system of your vegetables.

The following are some important tips you should know:

1. Soil: The soil you use in your vegetable garden will determine your success. Before planting your vegetables, make sure that your soil is healthy it should have a pH value of 6.5 or around neutral, but then again, pH value will depend on the different kinds of vegetables you are going to grow. So, just check specifics for each vegetable, but you are usually pretty safe with a neutral pH.

2. Water and Sunlight: Other important needs of your plants is water and sunlight. They are both essential for growing plants. However, too much and not enough of both will affect the healthy growth of your plants. For sunlight, make sure you chose the area which receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day; otherwise, it will not get the maximum growth it should have. For water, be sure to water deep. This means water the roots. Don’t focus on watering the leaves.

3. Controlling the Pests: Since you want a vegetables garden that is free from artificial pesticides, you could use beneficial gardening insects, like ladybugs, wasps, and praying mantis. They’re an effective alternative for pesticides and insecticides. If they can’t be found just around your garden, you can always purchase them from nurseries or even on line.

And, don’t forget–

For weeds, pulling them using your hands is more effective than killing them with weed killer.

There’s no harm in sacrificing a little portion of your harvest to bugs to be able to provide your family with natural, organic foods.

Composting kitchen scraps will definitely reduce the amount of waste that is deposited in landfills. Composting is a big help to your environment!

7 Tips for Successful Organic Vegetable Gardening

May 10, 2009 by Vegetable7 Leave a Comment

Are you satisfied with the last season you harvested? All those tomato plants you had, and got 6 beef steak tomatoes. Did that happen to you? This year, the number one your plan is to have a garden with tons of vegetables to harvest, and not just TOMATOES!

And this year, you even up the ante! because you are aware of what those chemicals, like fertilizers and pesticides, could do to your health, you only want an organic garden. Well, now, forget about last season. If you follow these simple tips, you can say hello to a great garden you’ve always wanted!

Tip #1: What vegetable should I plant? First, you should think of what vegetables you and your family usually love to eat. Then, throw in some expensive vegetable to really save money at the market.

Like, those lettuces in a mesclun salad, they’re much more expensive than iceberg lettuce, orange peppers and the red ones are more expensive than the green ones. Aside from that, why don’t you try some of the heirloom tomatoes like the popular Brandywine? Really, have fun with it.

Tip #2: Raised Beds— Instead of digging beds into your garden soil, why not build or buy a raised bed? This will save you a lot of time, believe it or not. Fill it with the appropriate soil and compost.

Raised beds are great for proper water drainage, and you control the soil conditions. You have healthier soil, and less weeds. If you don’t make your own compost, you can buy some bagged compost.

Read our page about raised bed gardening.

Tip #3: Keep it small— The more you plant the more you have to work. So, keep your organic garden small and manageable. Learn more about which vegetables work well in a small garden.

Tip #4: Garlic Bulbs are a big help— This will help deter pests away from plants. You know the ones you see lurking beyond the garden gate. Or, perhaps the little ones you don’t see that are hiding under the leaves.

Garlic is a companion plant to some vegetables, like beets, tomatoes, and lettuce. Learn more about companion planting.

Tip #5: Put up a fence—This will keep your plants safe from pests and other animals. Learn more about garden fencing options.

Tip #6: Soil Temperature—Make sure that your soil is the proper temperature for the vegetables before planting. If you have a short growing season, start your seeds indoors or build a coldframe to start the seeds.

Tip #7: Water, water—we all know that water is essential for plants to grow. Water consistently and water vegetables deeply! Water the roots! You don’t take a shower without washing your feet, right? Here’s a good guide to watering a vegetable garden.