Planting vegetables: the right “neighborhood” and types of beds. Agricultural technology for growing vegetables Why grow vegetable seedlings yourself

Many gardeners are already growing onions through seedlings, receiving per season good harvest onion heads from seeds. To do this you need to grow strong seedlings and plant onion sprouts in the beds in mid-May with a formed root system and the first bunch of leaves.

When and how to sow onions for seedlings was described here.

When growing onion seedlings at home, problems often arise - the plants become elongated, thin, weak, easily lie down, bend or turn yellow, and the tips of the leaves dry out. To avoid problems, you need to know what conditions are favorable for this crop and what mistakes in care should be avoided.

13 Mar 2020

In order for eggplant seedlings to be successful, strong and healthy, you need to know what kind of care this crop likes and create favorable conditions for the plants to grow.

What eggplant seedlings like and dislike:

1. Eggplants love warmth. . Seedlings of this crop grow quickly at air temperatures above +20 degrees; when the temperature drops to +16 degrees, plant growth stops. It is necessary to control not only the temperature of the air where the seedlings are located, but also the temperature of the soil in the seedling containers, since if boxes or cups are placed on a cold windowsill, this can inhibit the growth of seedlings.

02 Mar 2020

When growing flower and vegetable seedlings at home, the problem of plants stretching often arises. You need to combat the pulling of seedlings immediately after emergence.

There are only five reasons that cause seedlings to stretch; by eliminating them, you will get strong, stocky plants for planting in the ground.

1. Lack of light causes plants to drag . It is important to provide the crops with lighting for about 12 hours a day immediately after the first shoots appear.

28 Feb 2020

When sowing vegetable and flower seeds for seedlings, in order to prevent misgrading and remember what is growing in a particular container, gardeners use various ways crop markings. If seedlings are planted in cups, then you need to label each cup, since when rearranging or planting in the ground, the plants will be mixed and confused; only the labels on the cups will help prevent the plants from being mis-sorted.

What labels are convenient to use for marking seedlings? These can be either homemade or purchased flags and signs, but since you always need to label a large number of seedlings, it is better to save money and make labels for the seedlings yourself.

21 Feb 2020

The most exciting period of growing eggplant seedlings is waiting for the emergence of seedlings.

Most gardeners consider eggplant seeds to be difficult to germinate. Due to the long germination of seeds, eggplant seedlings are sown early - from mid-February.

Eggplants can sprout after 1 week and after 3-4 weeks. When there are no shoots a week after sowing, we consider that the seeds poor quality or the moon influenced us, but we do not take into account errors when sowing this crop.

The germination rate of eggplant seeds is influenced by two factors - temperature and sufficient humidity.

14 Feb 2020

First of all, everyone has a problem - there is not enough space on the windowsills to accommodate everything that you want to sow.

09 Feb 2020

When growing vegetable seedlings, you must strictly follow all the rules of agricultural technology from sowing to planting in the ground. Even a small mistake, for example, an incorrectly chosen time for sowing seeds, leads to a decrease in the quality of seedlings, which can cause a decrease in plant productivity.

I will list the 5 main mistakes that kill seedlings:

29 Jan 2020

Growing vegetable seedlings begins with preparing the seeds for sowing. The first stage is that the seeds must undergo disinfection or preventive cleansing from fungal and bacterial diseases. Disease infections can persist on seed coats for a long time, and after sowing infected seeds, plants become diseased already at the seedling stage.

It is imperative to disinfect the seeds collected yourself. If the manufacturer assures that the seeds have passed all stages of preparation for sowing, then you can immediately begin sowing, bypassing the stages of disinfection and soaking of the seeds.

24 Jan 2020

The most popular way to receive garden crops on personal plots. In the beds you can cultivate potatoes, cabbage, root vegetables, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs and much more. But to get a rich harvest, you need not only to properly care for the plants, but also to carefully select the site and prepare it.

You will learn how to do this correctly from our article. We have prepared detailed review methods and means of growing popular garden crops, and we have selected photos and videos for you that will facilitate the process of growing vegetables in open ground.

Site selection and soil preparation

Choosing a bed for sowing a particular vegetable should take into account fertility, lighting, humidity level and other parameters necessary for each type of crop. For example, cucumbers are afraid of drafts, so they are placed in areas protected from winds, but at the same time sufficiently moist. For cabbage, choose fertile and moist areas, well-lit and protected from the wind. Tomato beds should be located in areas with sufficient lighting, but without excess moisture.

Rice. 1. Preparing the soil for planting vegetables: digging, loosening and fertilizing

After harvesting the beds in mandatory dig up and fertilize (Fig. 1). For this you can use organic matter (manure, bird droppings or compost), mineral supplements or green manure - green plants that make the soil looser, prevent the growth of weeds and saturate it with useful substances.

A prerequisite for choosing a site for vegetables is compliance with crop rotation. Not all cultures get along well with each other. For example, cabbage greatly depletes the soil, so after it it is better to plant vegetables that are undemanding in terms of fertility.

Preparing seeds for planting

A high yield of vegetables is ensured not only correct selection place, but also by preparing seeds. Regardless of the type of crop, it is necessary to select only best seeds and process them before sowing. An example of processing is shown in Figure 2.

Note: Before use, the seeds are heated, hardened and germinated. This ensures the appearance of friendly shoots and high yields.

Preparing vegetable seeds includes:

  • Soaking - raw materials are dipped into clean water or weak solution potassium permanganate for several hours. This helps destroy pathogenic bacteria and saturate the seeds nutrients.
  • Hardening - the change is wrapped in a damp cloth and placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for 4-6 hours. After this, transfer to a room at room temperature for another 12 hours.
  • Germination - Before planting, bean or corn seeds are dipped in a plate of water, then wrapped in a damp cloth and kept at room temperature until small roots appear. This procedure significantly increases germination and yield.

Rice. 2. Treatment of vegetable seeds before planting in open ground

Early and heat-loving crops are grown not only by sowing in open ground, but also seedling method. This is the only opportunity to get a harvest in regions with a harsh or unstable climate (for example, in Siberia). With the help of seedlings you can get not only cucumbers, tomatoes or cabbage, but also beets, zucchini and corn.

Features of growing vegetables

Since each vegetable has its own growing technology, it is necessary to dwell in more detail on the main aspects of cultivating common crops in open ground.

Cabbage

Fertile soils with a slight moist slope and the ability to retain moisture are excellent for cabbage.

Note: Good beds for cabbage will be those where potatoes, cucumbers or onions used to grow.

Grow cabbage the seedless method is possible only in warm climates. In other regions early harvest cabbage can only be obtained by preliminary breeding of seedlings (Fig. 3). Seeds are planted at the end of winter in containers with a nutritious earthen mixture. After the formation of several leaves, the seedlings are planted in separate containers.

Rice. 3. Planting and growing cabbage in open ground

Cabbage seedlings are transplanted in May, but it is advisable to prepare the bed in advance: fertilize it with manure and dig it thoroughly. Cabbage is planted in rows, at a distance of 50 cm from each other. The soil in the hole is moistened and fertilized with humus and ash.

Note: If the threat of frost has not yet passed, the seedlings can be covered with film, but when the temperature stabilizes, the cover is removed.

Cabbage is very sensitive to watering. In the absence of natural precipitation, the soil is moistened every 3 days, and additional loosening is carried out to prevent the formation of a crust on the surface. Hilling will help retain moisture and prevent weed growth. Cabbage can also be fertilized by adding mineral and organic fertilizers (10 days after planting the seedlings and again a month later).

Ornamental vegetables

Well-lit areas are selected for root crops. The most popular crops of this type are carrots and beets. But while carrots tolerate frost and drought well, beets require more stable climatic conditions.

Note: Despite the resistance of root crops to temperature changes, it is recommended to pre-sowing treatment seeds to speed up their germination.

Beets can be sown either directly in open ground or grown using seedlings. The seeds are sown in small containers, and after two or three leaves appear, they are planted (planted in separate pots or cups).

Rice. 4. Growing carrots and beets in open ground

Sowing directly into the soil is carried out when the soil at a depth of 5 cm warms up. Cold ground can cause seeds to germinate slowly or stop growing altogether. Beets may begin to throw out side shoots. Sowing and caring for root crops in open ground is shown in Figure 4.

At growing carrots and beets in open ground you need to properly care for plants. First of all, this concerns loosening row spacing and applying fertilizers. Loosening the soil is necessary to remove the crust that forms on the surface of the earth after watering or rain. In addition, it helps eliminate weeds and saturate the plant roots with moisture.

Fertilizers are applied mainly organic (diluted cow dung or bird droppings), but you can also use special mineral supplements for root vegetables. It is also recommended to periodically thin out the seedlings so that only the strongest plants remain in the garden bed. Thickened plantings also provoke the development of diseases.

Pumpkin

The most common pumpkin crops in our country's gardens are pumpkin, cucumbers, zucchini and squash. The main requirements for their cultivation are a sufficient amount of air, sunlight and water (Fig. 5). At the same time, pumpkin plants are not too demanding on soil fertility; for them it is much higher value has its moisture content.

Rice. 5. Growing pumpkins, cucumbers and zucchini in open ground

Despite the fact that cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes and pumpkins belong to the same class of plants, the requirements for growing them in garden beds are slightly different:

  1. Grow pumpkin better in areas previously fertilized with humus or mullein. In order for the seeds to germinate faster, it is recommended to sow them in warm earth, and before the first shoots appear, cover with film.
  2. For squash the soil can be fertilized minerals, but at proper care the crop produces a good harvest without additional fertilizing. Squash can be grown as seedlings, but it is much easier to sow directly into open ground, since the vegetable is highly resistant to frost.
  3. Zucchini- fairly unpretentious vegetables that do not require special conditions. But to obtain a rich harvest, it is recommended to fertilize the soil with organic and mineral additives and observe crop rotation. In addition, zucchini loves well-lit areas and frequent watering. You can plant directly into the ground, but for regions with a harsh climate and short summers, preference should be given to the seedling method.
  4. Cucumbers and their cultivation in open ground It is also quite simple. To do this, just choose a well-lit area with well-drained soil. Vegetables are planted directly in open ground and covered with film to protect the seedlings from frost. Such covering material also prevents the soil from drying out and stops the growth of weeds.

All cucurbits have one thing general requirement to cultivation: they are very sensitive to lack of moisture, so the beds should be watered regularly (every 3-4 days, provided there is no natural precipitation). Lack of water can lead to a decrease in the yield and taste of vegetables.

Peppers and tomatoes

Grow peppers and tomatoes in open ground is possible only with the help of seedlings, since these crops are heat-loving (Fig. 6). The bed is placed in a well-lit place protected from cold winds. In addition, it is necessary to fertilize the soil with organic and mineral fertilizers in the fall.

Rice. 6. Growing seedlings of peppers and tomatoes in open ground

In warm climates, peppers can still be grown without seedlings. To do this, the seeds are sown in prepared soil around the end of May and covered with film. After the first shoots appear, the shelter is removed. Tomato seedlings are also transferred to the soil at the end of May. After planting, you need to properly care for the plants, in particular, regularly loosen the soil to remove weeds, apply fertilizing during flowering and the beginning of fruiting, and also provide the crops with a sufficient amount of liquid.

Legumes

The most popular legumes are beans and corn. This heat-loving plants, for which areas protected from winds and well-lit are selected (Fig. 7).

When growing legumes in open ground It is necessary to strictly observe crop rotation and carry out pre-sowing seed treatment. This will help not only improve the quality and quantity of seedlings, but also strengthen the seedlings during the development period.

Rice. 7. Sowing and growing beans and corn

Since both corn and beans are very sensitive to frost, they are planted in open ground after the weather becomes consistently warm. In addition, before planting, it is recommended to germinate the seeds in a damp cloth until small roots appear.

Potato

Potatoes are the most common vegetable in the gardens of our country. This crop is undemanding to the level of soil fertility, but a rich harvest is still easier to obtain if a sufficient amount of organic and mineral fertilizers.

Rice. 8. Growing potatoes in open ground

Medium-sized tubers are suitable for planting. Longitudinal rows with holes are made on the bed at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other (Fig. 8).

Note: Before planting, the tubers should produce small “eyes”, which indicate that the first shoots will soon appear.

Throughout the entire growing period, potatoes are weeded and hilled several times to remove weeds. If necessary, fertilize or use chemicals to combat diseases and pests. In general, growing potatoes in open ground is quite simple, and even novice gardeners can cope with the cultivation of this vegetable.

Green

Green crops are divided into salad crops (intended for fresh consumption) and spinach crops (used for further processing). Salad greens also include spice crops(basil, dill, cilantro), which are added to dishes fresh or dried. The greenery planting scheme is shown in Figure 9.

The most popular greens for fresh consumption are leaf lettuce. This is a cold-resistant crop that grows well in any soil, but it is better to obtain a bountiful harvest on loose soils.

Note: To keep the lettuce leaves large and juicy, the beds need to be watered regularly.

Rice. 9. Planting scheme and growing greens in open ground

Another popular herb is dill, which is also resistant to cold and disease and does not require careful care. IN wildlife dill grows freely, and often it does not even need to be specially planted, since it is sown independently in the beds. Dill can be harvested both for greens and for seeds (umbels), which are used as a seasoning.

Regardless of the type of crop, vegetables require careful care. Key activities include (Figure 10):

  • Loosening - Using this procedure, the top crust that covers the ground after rain or watering is broken. Loosening helps improve the penetration of air and moisture into the deep layers of the soil. In addition, this allows you to remove roots and young weeds.
  • Watering - to the majority vegetable crops and greens require regular watering. But the amount and frequency of water application is different. For example, cucumbers and zucchini require more moisture for abundant fruiting, and excessive watering of tomatoes can provoke late blight.
  • Feeding - application of organic and mineral fertilizers to different stages cultivation allows you to accelerate the growth of crops, make flowering more intense or improve the quality of fruits.
  • Hilling - During the hilling process, the bushes are sprinkled with dry soil or peat. This helps retain moisture and prevents weed growth.
  • Mulching- This is covering the space around the bushes with a layer of sawdust, straw or a special film. Using mulch helps retain moisture, slow weed growth and protect young seedlings from frost.

Rice. 10. Vegetable care: loosening, watering, fertilizing and mulching

In addition, the growing process may require the use of special chemicals (herbicides and insecticides) to prevent disease and control pests.

The most popular way to obtain garden crops in personal plots is to arrange your own beds. You can cultivate many vegetables in open ground: potatoes, cabbage, root vegetables, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs and much more. But to get a rich harvest, you need not only to properly care for the plants, but also to carefully select the site and prepare it.

You will learn how to do this correctly from our article. We have prepared a detailed overview of methods and means of growing popular garden crops, and selected photos and videos for you that will facilitate the process of growing vegetables in open ground.

Growing vegetables in open ground

Choosing a bed for sowing a particular vegetable should take into account fertility, lighting, humidity level and other parameters necessary for each type of crop. For example, cucumbers are afraid of drafts, so they are placed in areas protected from winds, but at the same time sufficiently moist. For cabbage, choose fertile and moist areas, well-lit and protected from the wind. Tomato beds should be located in areas with sufficient lighting, but without excess moisture.


Figure 1. Preparing the soil for planting vegetables: digging, loosening and fertilizing

After harvesting, the beds must be dug up and fertilized (Figure 1). To do this, you can use organic substances (manure, bird droppings or compost), mineral fertilizers or green manure - green plants that make the soil looser, prevent the growth of weeds and saturate it with useful substances.

A prerequisite for choosing a site for vegetables is compliance with crop rotation. Not all cultures get along well with each other. For example, cabbage greatly depletes the soil, so after it it is better to plant vegetables that are undemanding in terms of fertility.

The video shows how to make a universal warm breast for growing vegetables.

Preparing seeds for planting

A high yield of vegetables is ensured not only by the correct selection of location, but also by the preparation of seeds. Regardless of the type of crop, it is necessary to select only the best seeds and treat them before sowing. An example of processing is shown in Figure 2.

Note: Before use, the seeds are heated, hardened and germinated. This ensures the appearance of friendly shoots and high yields.

Preparing vegetable seeds includes:

  • Soaking - the raw materials are immersed in clean water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate for several hours. This helps destroy pathogenic bacteria and saturate the seeds with nutrients.
  • Hardening - the change is wrapped in a damp cloth and placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for 4-6 hours. After this, transfer to a room at room temperature for another 12 hours.
  • Germination - Before planting, bean or corn seeds are dipped in a plate of water, then wrapped in a damp cloth and kept at room temperature until small roots appear. This procedure significantly increases germination and yield.

Figure 2. Treatment of vegetable seeds before planting

Early and heat-loving crops are grown not only by sowing in open ground, but also by seedlings. This is the only opportunity to get a harvest in regions with a harsh or unstable climate (for example, in Siberia). With the help of seedlings you can get not only cucumbers, tomatoes or cabbage, but also beets, zucchini and corn.

Features of growing vegetables

Since each vegetable has its own growing technology, it is necessary to dwell in more detail on the main aspects of cultivating common crops in open ground.

Cabbage

Fertile soils with a slight moist slope and the ability to retain moisture are excellent for cabbage.

Note: Good beds for cabbage will be those where potatoes, cucumbers or onions previously grew.

Cabbage can be grown without seedlings only in warm climates. In other regions, an early harvest of cabbage can only be obtained by pre-breeding seedlings (Figure 3). Seeds are planted at the end of winter in containers with a nutritious earthen mixture. After the formation of several leaves, the seedlings are planted in separate containers.


Figure 3. Planting and growing cabbage

Cabbage seedlings are transplanted in May, but it is advisable to prepare the bed in advance: fertilize it with manure and dig it thoroughly. Cabbage is planted in rows, at a distance of 50 cm from each other. The soil in the hole is moistened and fertilized with humus and ash.

Note: If the threat of frost has not yet passed, the seedlings can be covered with film, but when the temperature stabilizes, the cover is removed.

Cabbage is very sensitive to watering. In the absence of natural precipitation, the soil is moistened every 3 days, and additional loosening is carried out to prevent the formation of a crust on the surface. Hilling will help retain moisture and prevent weed growth. Cabbage can also be fertilized by adding mineral and organic fertilizers (10 days after planting the seedlings and again a month later).

Roots

Well-lit areas are selected for root crops. The most popular crops of this type are carrots and beets. But while carrots tolerate frost and drought well, beets require more stable climatic conditions.

Note: Despite the resistance of root crops to temperature changes, it is recommended to carry out pre-sowing seed treatment to accelerate their germination.

Beets can be sown either directly in open ground or grown using seedlings. The seeds are sown in small containers, and after two or three leaves appear, they are planted (planted in separate pots or cups).


Figure 4. Growing carrots and beets in beds

Sowing directly into the soil is carried out when the soil at a depth of 5 cm warms up. Cold soil can cause seeds to germinate slowly or stop growing altogether. Beets may begin to throw out side shoots. Sowing and caring for root crops in open ground is shown in Figure 4.

When growing carrots and beets, you need to properly care for the plants. First of all, this concerns loosening row spacing and applying fertilizers. Loosening the soil is necessary to remove the crust that forms on the surface of the earth after watering or rain. In addition, it helps eliminate weeds and saturate the plant roots with moisture.

Fertilizers are mainly organic (diluted cow manure or bird droppings), but special mineral supplements for root crops can also be used. It is also recommended to periodically thin out the seedlings so that only the strongest plants remain in the garden bed. Thickened plantings also provoke the development of diseases.

From the video you will learn how to properly grow carrots in open ground.

Pumpkin

The most common pumpkin crops in our country's gardens are pumpkin, cucumbers, zucchini and squash. The main requirements for their cultivation are a sufficient amount of air, sunlight and water (Figure 5). At the same time, pumpkin plants are not too demanding on soil fertility; for them, soil moisture is much more important.


Figure 5. Growing pumpkins, cucumbers and zucchini

Despite the fact that cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes and pumpkins belong to the same class of plants, the requirements for growing them in garden beds are slightly different:

  1. Grow pumpkin better in areas previously fertilized with humus or mullein. In order for the seeds to germinate faster, it is recommended to sow them in warm soil and cover them with film before the first shoots appear.
  2. For squash the soil can be fertilized with minerals, but with proper care the crop produces a good harvest without additional fertilizing. Squash can be grown as seedlings, but it is much easier to sow directly into open ground, since the vegetable is highly resistant to frost.
  3. Zucchini- fairly unpretentious vegetables that do not require special conditions. But to obtain a rich harvest, it is recommended to fertilize the soil with organic and mineral additives and observe crop rotation. In addition, zucchini loves well-lit areas and frequent watering. You can plant directly into the ground, but for regions with a harsh climate and short summers, preference should be given to the seedling method.
  4. Cucumbers and their cultivation in open ground It is also quite simple. To do this, just choose a well-lit area with well-drained soil. Vegetables are planted directly in the ground and covered with film to protect the seedlings from frost. Such covering material also prevents the soil from drying out and stops the growth of weeds.

All pumpkin crops have one common requirement for cultivation: they are very sensitive to lack of moisture, so the beds should be watered regularly (every 3-4 days, provided there is no natural precipitation). Lack of water can lead to a decrease in the yield and taste of vegetables.

Peppers and tomatoes

It is possible to grow peppers and tomatoes in open ground only with the help of seedlings, since these crops are heat-loving (Figure 6). The bed is placed in a well-lit place protected from cold winds. In addition, it is necessary to fertilize the soil with organic and mineral fertilizers in the fall.


Figure 6. Growing seedlings of peppers and tomatoes in beds

In warm climates, peppers can still be grown without seedlings. To do this, the seeds are sown in prepared soil around the end of May and covered with film. After the first shoots appear, the shelter is removed. Tomato seedlings are also transferred to the soil at the end of May. After planting, you need to properly care for the plants, in particular, regularly loosen the soil to remove weeds, apply fertilizing during flowering and the beginning of fruiting, and also provide the crops with a sufficient amount of liquid.

Legumes

The most popular legumes are beans and corn. These are heat-loving plants, for which they select areas protected from the winds and well-lit (Figure 7).

When growing legumes in open ground, it is necessary to strictly observe crop rotation and carry out pre-sowing seed treatment. This will help not only improve the quality and quantity of seedlings, but also strengthen the seedlings during the development period.


Figure 7. Sowing and growing beans and corn

Since both corn and beans are very sensitive to frost, they are planted in open ground after the weather becomes consistently warm. In addition, before planting, it is recommended to germinate the seeds in a damp cloth until small roots appear.

Potato

Potatoes are the most common vegetable in the gardens of our country. This crop is undemanding in terms of soil fertility, but a rich harvest is still easier to obtain if sufficient amounts of organic and mineral fertilizers are applied.


Figure 8. Growing potatoes in open ground

Medium-sized tubers are suitable for planting. Longitudinal rows with holes are made in the garden bed at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other (Figure 8).

Note: Before planting, the tubers should produce small “eyes”, which indicate that the first shoots will soon appear.

Throughout the entire growing period, potatoes are weeded and hilled several times to remove weeds. If necessary, fertilize or use chemicals to combat diseases and pests. In general, growing potatoes in open ground is quite simple, and even novice gardeners can cope with the cultivation of this vegetable.

From the video you will learn how to properly grow potatoes and care for them.

Green

Green crops are divided into salad crops (intended for fresh consumption) and spinach crops (used for further processing). Salad greens also include spicy crops (basil, dill, cilantro), which are added to dishes fresh or dried. The greenery planting scheme is shown in Figure 9.

The most popular greens for fresh consumption are leaf lettuce. This is a cold-resistant crop that grows well in any soil, but it is better to obtain a bountiful harvest on loose soils.

Note: To keep the lettuce leaves large and juicy, the beds need to be watered regularly.

Figure 9. Planting scheme and growing greens in open ground

Another popular herb is dill, which is also resistant to cold and disease and does not require careful care. In the wild, dill grows freely, and often it does not even need to be specially planted, since it is sown independently in the beds. Dill can be harvested both for greens and for seeds (umbels), which are used as a seasoning.

Regardless of the type of crop, vegetables require careful care. Key activities include (Figure 10):

  • Loosening - Using this procedure, the top crust that covers the ground after rain or watering is broken. Loosening helps improve the penetration of air and moisture into the deep layers of the soil. In addition, this allows you to remove roots and young weeds.
  • Watering - Most vegetable crops and herbs require regular watering. But the amount and frequency of water application is different. For example, cucumbers and zucchini require more moisture for abundant fruiting, and excessive watering of tomatoes can provoke late blight.
  • Feeding - The application of organic and mineral fertilizers at different stages of cultivation allows you to accelerate the growth of crops, make flowering more intense or improve the quality of fruits.
  • Hilling - During the hilling process, the bushes are sprinkled with dry soil or peat. This helps retain moisture and prevents weed growth.
  • Mulching- This is covering the space around the bushes with a layer of sawdust, straw or a special film. Using mulch helps retain moisture, slow weed growth and protect young seedlings from frost.

Figure 10. Vegetable care: loosening, watering, fertilizing and mulching

In addition, the growing process may require the use of special chemicals (herbicides and insecticides) to prevent disease and control pests.

The weather is getting better, the sun is shining brighter, and under its gentle rays not only fragile green leaves appear, but also thoughts about future plantings. After they arise, we go to the seed and plant store and buy, buy, buy: everything is so beautiful, inexpensive, and, it turns out, we need absolutely all of it! Is this a familiar situation? In this case, we recommend that you sit on a bench right in the store, relax a little and read our article about the compatibility of different types of plants. Perhaps after this most of your purchases will go to their original place.

Planting vegetables correctly

Have you probably noticed that in some people’s gardens everything grows and blooms vigorously, while in others it doesn’t even sprout? If you sadly consider yourself to be the latter, don’t be upset: it’s not about you! Most likely, you are simply planting your plants incorrectly, and in this matter both “neighborhood” and order are important. For example, onion And carrot will become wonderful neighbors, since the culprit of tears secretes a special substance that saves defenseless carrots from pests. A good solution would be to land peas next to pumpkin: the latter will prevent weeds from growing. If you like to grow tomatoes, but the harvest doesn’t make you too happy, plant a garden bed nearby basilica– its smell cannot be tolerated by caterpillars who want to spoil your tomatoes. In addition, both plants require the same care and watering, so you will make the task much easier for yourself. The same can be said about eggplants And Bulgarian pepper.

Lettuce It is quite unpretentious and is ready to coexist peacefully with many plants, but keep in mind that it will not “feel” well next to parsley - avoid such a neighborhood. Sunflower It is better to plant it away from other plants, since it releases substances into the ground that prevent everyone but it from growing. If most of your plantings suffer from pest invasion, then you can plant nearby sunny flowers calendula (marigold): they will do an excellent job of repelling insects and at the same time decorate the beds.


The sequence of planting plants in the soil is also important, whichmay be oversaturated with any harmful components or, conversely, the necessary elements may be lacking. For example, carrots and beets are very good to grow after potatoes, but such a predecessor is absolutely not suitable for tomatoes. Follow the vegetable cycle on the sign below and you can't go wrong with your planting.


It is worth mentioning separately about the beds: If you think that throwing a generous handful of seeds into the ground is enough, then you are very mistaken. The shape and type of bed largely determines the abundance of your future harvest, as well as the frequency of your “exploits” with a shovel and hoe. If you don’t like messing around in the garden at all, then ideal solution for you there will be so-called “lazy” beds. This type of beds requires absolutely no weeding or maintenance, yes, you read that right.


Such beds are prepared in advance in order to thoroughly and properly fertilize the soil. The soil is also mulched, which subsequently prevents weeds from sprouting. The soil is loosened and weeded once - during planting. After that it is enough only regular watering. This idea may seem strange to some, but it really works. Pre-fertilized soil saturates the plants with all the necessary components, and correct landing"neighbors" reduces the appearance of weeds and pests to a minimum. In addition, due to the absence of weeding, the plants grow larger and more resilient.

One more interesting option are “smart” beds. In composition, they are very similar to “lazy” beds, but in “smart” beds the emphasis is on even more thorough fertilization of the soil - most often it is compost with the addition of straw. From above, such a combination is covered with a small layer of earth. Such beds are often made very high; they can reach a height of more than a meter. This helps the plantings to be better warmed by the sun.




Of course, this version of the beds will require more effort from you, but later you will be pleasantly surprised by the harvest, as well as the free time you have.

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We'll tell you how to properly store potatoes and apples without compromising the beauty of the interior and the safety of the harvest.

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Photo: 1zoom.me, pinme.ru, mediaspy.ru, liveinternet.ru, happymodern.ru

WikiHow works like a wiki, which means that many of our articles are written by multiple authors. This article was produced by 14 people, including anonymously, to edit and improve it.

Vegetable gardening is a source of pleasure and a rewarding activity in spring and summer. Plan to grow the vegetables your family loves most, then find the best place to plant it in your garden (or patio). With a little time and care, your summer table will be full of ripe, delicious produce.

Steps

Planting planning

  1. Decide what to grow. What vegetables do you like best? Think about what you would like to have on your plate all summer and plan your garden accordingly. Most vegetables grow well in a variety of climatic conditions, but it will be better to find out what grows best in your climatic zone before deciding what to grow.

    • Consider choosing vegetables that ripen in different times to have fresh produce all summer long, instead of having it all ripen at the same time.
    • Some plants do not grow as well in some regions as they do in their native region. Find out whether the vegetables you want to grow require cool temperatures, or whether they wilt and die when the temperature gets too hot. You may have to be more selective about what you grow if you live in a climate with very short summers or in an area that suffers from a lack of water.
    • Choose plants that need the same growing conditions and soil conditions to make your garden easier to maintain.
  2. Choose a place to plant. Most vegetables need bright colors sunlight, so choose the sunniest places on your site for planting. Avoid areas that may be shaded by a house or tree during the day. Choose a location that has good drainage and rich soil.

    • You can tell if an area has good drainage by checking it after heavy rain. If puddles form, the area is probably not suitable for a vegetable garden. If the water immediately seeps into the soil, then everything is fine.
    • Choose a relatively flat one, without large quantity roots and stones area. This will make it easier to cultivate the land and prepare the beds for planting.
    • If the soil low quality or does not have good drainage, you can still plant a vegetable garden, creating raised beds allowing plants to be grown above ground level.
    • Some vegetables grow well in large pots. Peppers, tomatoes and potatoes can be grown in pots on the patio or on fire escape if you don't have a yard.
  3. Vegetable garden design. Now it's time to figure out how much space the garden should take up and what plants will grow there. Various types vegetable plants are necessary different quantities space, so figure out how much space is needed for the plants you want to grow when you're planning your design.

    Preparing for landing

    1. Buy seeds and supplies. Decide whether you will plant vegetables from seeds or seedlings and buy them from a catalog or nursery. You also have to decide what tools you need to buy. A lot of gardening work can be done by hand with simple tools, but if you're planning on having a large garden, your life will be much easier if you invest in a power tiller to turn over the soil. Here's what you'll need:

      • Seeds or seedlings. Many nurseries have great choice seeds and seedlings, as well as staff who can help you decide which varieties to buy. If you decide to plant seedlings, buy them no more than a few days before planting.
      • Fertilizer. A good natural fertilizer will provide your vegetables with additional nutrients. Buy bone meal, albumen flour or a mixture of soil fertilizers. Compost also works quite well.
      • Mulch and top layer soil. Vegetable plants should be protected from wind and heavy rain when they are just planted. Determine if mulch is needed or just a thin layer is enough fertile soil. You can also use hay to protect plant seedlings.
    2. Motor cultivator. This machine is used to loosen the soil so that fertilizer can be applied and holes can be dug for plants. For a small vegetable garden, you can simply use a hoe and your own hands, but you may want to buy or rent a motorized cultivator for a garden larger than 3 square meters.

      • Shovel and rake. They are used for digging holes and moving plants and soil, and are important gardening tools.
      • Ruler or tape measure. Because vegetable plants should be planted at different depths, it is useful to have a ruler to measure the holes made.
      • Hose with adjustable watering modes. The ability to change water pressure can be useful.
      • Fencing devices. Creatures like rabbits, squirrels, deer and other animals love to chew on vegetables, so you can build a fence around your vegetable garden.
    3. Prepare the soil. Mark the corners of the vegetable garden you created using rocks. Clear the area within these boundaries of roots, rocks, sticks, weeds and other large debris. Use a tiller or hoe and rake to break up the soil into small pieces, digging to a depth of about a foot, depending on how deep you want your vegetables to be planted.

      • If you use fertilizer, mix it into the soil with a rake. Make sure to distribute them evenly.
      • Be sure to take the time to remove large rocks that are hidden under the soil. They will interfere with the roots of your plants and it is best to take the time to clear them from the soil.
      • If you are concerned about the quality of the soil on your property, purchase a soil testing kit to find out how much nutrients and organic matter it contains, as well as its pH level. All of these factors determine how well vegetables grow and how nutritious they will be. Once you have tested the soil, you can add anything that may be missing.