Growing your own vegetables and herbs is fun and beneficial, but sometimes things do go wrong. Here are some common mistakes you should avoid and how to solve them.The following content also has some reference value for raised garden beds.
Whether you are a gardener for two days or twenty years, mistakes are sometimes unavoidable. However, some problems can be easily avoided. Take time to figure out how to avoid these problems. This year's harvest may be your best.
Error 1: Sowing too early
When spring finally comes, most people are eager to return to the garden. However, if the temperature of the place where you live will still fall below zero, please avoid planting tender crops, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, eggplants and peppers. These vegetables should be covered until the night temperature is at least 55 ° F. If you want to give them a chance, plant them under planting cloth, bell shaped blouses, milk cans or other types of protection.
Error 2: Squeeze the plants together
Some salad crops, such as spinach, loose leaf lettuce, arugula and kale, do not mind growing side by side. However, most vegetables work best when they are not squeezed too tightly. For example, tomatoes need good ventilation to stay healthy, so be sure to keep them at least 2-3 feet apart. If they are planted too closely, they are more likely to have problems such as fusarium wilt or mildew. Other vegetables that need more breathing space include broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, sweet corn, potatoes and peppers.
Error 3: Too much or too little water
Continuous watering is essential for a good harvest. Most crops grow well when they receive about an inch of water a week. Buy a rain gauge to monitor rainfall, and use drip irrigation system or permeable hose to make up for the shortage in dry season. Plants lacking water will show obvious signs of withering and yellow leaves, and fruits will be stunted or deformed. As long as your soil is well drained, vegetables that receive too much water are usually good, but if the watering is inconsistent, melons and tomatoes may crack. If there is too much water in your garden, your crops will be damaged and the leaves will turn yellow. The only way to solve this problem is to improve the soil by working in organic matter several inches thick. A layer of mulch around the crop also helps to keep the soil moisture consistent.
Error 4: Sit in the shade
Vegetables and herbs need at least six hours of direct sunlight to perform well. Some leaf crops, such as lettuce and spinach, can grow under partial shade, but they cannot grow well even without direct sunlight. If you don't have a sunny plot suitable for a traditional garden, try gardening in a container. You can move around on the platform or terrace to take advantage of the sunshine you have. Vegetables grown in shade usually do not produce fruit, or even if they do, they are smaller and taste worse than vegetables grown in full sunlight.
Error 5: Forget to improve the soil
Good soil is the key to the success of any garden, especially when you grow food crops. Vegetables are fertilizer, so if you don't use a few inches of compost, rotting fertilizer, or chopped leaves to improve the soil, your crops may be affected. The best time to improve the soil is early spring, just after the soil starts to dry. Do a soil test, or grab a handful of soil and put it in the palm of your hand. If the soil forms tight lumps, it is still too wet to work. If it remains in shape but can be easily disassembled, it can be used. Sprinkle a few inches of organic matter on the surface of the soil, then plough it or shovel it into the top of the soil. After that, your garden can be planted.
