Gardening is a science-based approach to gardening that carefully considers the necessary nutrients needed to grow almost any type of plant or vegetable. While it does take more time, for many people the money saved and the health benefits of home-grown fruits and vegetables are worth it.
So what should you grow in your garden? You can grow anything, fruit, vegetables, herbs. Some people choose to use it only on flowering plants, however, this fertilizer is designed to maximize the growth of fruiting plants. Here are six of the most popular foods grown this way.
- Beans
Perhaps one of the most common garden vegetables, the bean is an easy plant to grow and its products are very versatile. Beans can be eaten cold, fresh off the vine. They can be steamed, boiled or roasted as a delicious side dish. Families that grow their own may also like to keep green beans in airtight glass jars for year-round use.
There are many kinds of garden beans that can be grown. Varieties include bush beans, which grow in low, wide shrubs, and pole beans, which require trellis or other upright structures to climb. Beans come in green and purple varieties, as well as some white, yellow and even pink varieties.
They are hardy plants, and when sown, such as in alternating rows for maximum sunlight, each plant will produce more pods. Harvesting can also be convenient using this method, as the gardener can easily reach between the plants without having to bend over if using a planter box or trellis.
- Tomato
Tomatoes can definitely add bright color to any garden. With so many varieties to choose from, you can grow tomatoes of any size, almost any color, and many different flavors. From cherry tomatoes to grape tomatoes, steaks to sliced tomatoes to heirloom tomatoes, tomatoes can be eaten as a snack, added to salads or sandwiches, or even fried.
Tomatoes require a lot of drainage and are easy to pick when placed in a planter box. Some varieties will require a lattice or wall to climb, increasing the difficulty of picking them, especially the smaller cherry types. Under the right conditions, tomato plants can grow rapidly. They need some pruning to allow the light to hit the leaves properly and to pick the ripe fruit.
- Cucumber
Cucumbers are a cool and refreshing vegetable that is popular among home gardeners because they are a great snack to add to salads and other dishes and are often fermented to make pickles that can be enjoyed year-round. While green is the most popular, cucumbers also come in a variety of colors, including yellow or light green.
Cucumbers come in both shrubs and vines. They thrive in warm weather and plenty of sunlight, and grow well in a planter box or container.
- Corn
Who can resist home-grown sweet corn on a summer night? Not many people, that's for sure. That's why it has become a staple in many backyard gardens. While corn is usually grown on a larger scale, it can easily be grown in a home garden.
Corn is another versatile vegetable that can be eaten straight off the stem, making it popular at food stands and farmers markets. It can also be cut off the stick, cooked, and frozen for future year-round use. With a wide variety of corn varieties in color, size and sweetness, there is sure to be one sweet corn that is a favorite of your family.
- Pepper
Another vegetable is so varied that it's impossible to list them all, and peppers have so many flavors and uses. They can be eaten fresh as a snack, chopped up, and added to salads and other dishes. Used with other vegetables such as Onions and tomatoes, peppers can be a great addition to salsa and other sauces.
Pepper plants take up very little space, and since they need plenty of sunlight, you can stagger them in your planter box so that there is still enough room to plant several. They do like heat, so cool places may want to consider covering the seedlings with some type of mulch or small greenhouse.
From bell peppers to chili peppers, you'll be able to grow a variety of trays to suit everyone. Bell peppers are by far the most popular variety in backyards, ranging in color from green to red, purple, and orange. Of course, for pepper lovers, popular varieties include jalapeno and habanero
- lettuce
Unlike the other vegetables mentioned above, lettuce can't necessarily be grown and kept throughout the year to feed a family. However, during its growing season, it can provide a rich flavor to salads and other dishes. With so many varieties to choose from, this is also a great option for those who sell their crops at farmers markets. If you're lucky enough to live in a warm climate where the plants can tolerate temperatures, you can grow lettuce year-round.
Requiring loose soil and proper drainage, it also thrives when fed and fertilized. Plants can be started indoors and then separated when they are replanted into a garden bed for a larger harvest.
This is just a short list of vegetables that are common plants in this method of gardening. Of course, there are many more things that are not mentioned, as well as plenty of fruits and herbs.
