Potted vegetables are something the kids can help with for a household project.
Growing vegetables at home can save you money on monthly grocery costs and allow you to control the amount of pesticides and herbicides in the vegetables you consume. You can grow your own vegetables in a garden, in the kitchen or in specialized pots around the house. Does this Spark an idea?
Windowsill Vegetables
Windowsill vegetables and herbs are convenient if you live in an apartment or condominium. To grow these plants, first purchase planting pots, potting soil and vegetable transplants such as tomatoes or chives. Fill the pots with some planting soil, but leave enough space to add the transplants. Pull the transplants from their containers, set them inside the new pots and press down the soil to secure the plant. Place pots in the windowsill and water them according to the instructions that accompanied the transplant.
Raised Beds
Raised boxes require a little construction or additional purchases to grow at your home. Instead of using a space directly from the lawn, construct a raised bed for the yard or patio area. Purchase premade raised beds or construct 4-foot square boxes that are at least 20 inches tall. Use a landscape fabric sheet to cover the ground below the box and fill the box with planting soil, mulch and compost mixes before planting your seeds.
Corrugated Metal Bed
Corrugated metal pieces are inexpensive alternatives to raised beds made from wood. Purchase corrugated metal sheet from construction or roofing supply outlets. Overlap the sheets so they are even and create a circular garden bed. Use a rivet gun to attach the sheets together and secure the circle with support rods on the outside. Fill the bed with compost and either plant seeds or use transplant vegetables.
Potted Vegetables
Potted gardens allow you to move your garden around depending on the weather or even your yard's needs. Place potted gardens in a sunny area where they receive at least six to eight hours of sunlight each day. Plant vegetables in their own pots, making sure that there is enough space in each pot for the vegetable plant to grow and expand. Water plants heavily immediately after planting, and then water to keep the soil damp -- often daily depending on the material of the pot (terra-cotta pots require more frequent watering).
Traditional Garden Plot
A traditional garden plot requires space in your yard. Depending on the amount of vegetables you wish to plant, the garden can be as small as a few feet or as long as the side of the home. Cultivate the area by removing weeds, shrubs and other plants. Till the ground to aerate the soil and move around the nutrients, and prepare the surface with compost. Plant transplants or seeds in raised soil beds in the garden and water or feed them with mulch depending on the type of vegetable you are growing.
Tags: enough space, grow your, planting soil, raised beds, with compost