IDEAL INTERIORS : VEGETABLE GARDENING

It can be a daunting task maintaining a home. Most of us work so hard on the house interiors forgetting the exterior; that is the garden. The garden can make your house have a complete beautiful look, or make it look ancient and un kept. While many of us only think of planting unwanted flowers, it has been proved that a well maintained vegetable garden can make your garden look beautiful at the same time give you food and earn you an extra penny. A vegetable garden can supply your kitchen with the daily fresh vegetables and the extra supplies can be sold off to your nearest fresh produce market. I have visited many homes around and I can say that I have only been disappointed at how people waste the beautiful pieces of land around them. In today’s world and the harsh reality of failing economy one can make very good use of the small land in their compounds with several projects which can both be a sight to behold and income generating activity for you and your family. If you have that small piece of extra land and you don’t know what to do with it every time you walk past it, then be ready to roll up your sleeves after work and on weekends as I give you ideas on how to go about utilizing that piece of land. Vegetable garden Deciding what to grow in a vegetable garden should be easy - grow what you like to eat and what you think can be a quick sell in the market; a mixture of vegetables can do. Most homeowners are willing to invest in the shrubs and flowers but not a vegetable garden, not knowing that what goes to the garden never goes to waste, instead it gives back in plenty. A vegetable garden requires commitment and they rarely appeal to everyone, but there are some real advantages to having your own vegetable garden; having your own fresh supplies of vegetables daily is one thing I can’t afford to miss at whatever price. Below find the few vegetables that can do so well in your small garden if you put your heart to make it work; Onions: Onions can be dug once the tops have ripened and fallen over. Allow the onions to dry in the sun Tomatoes: Harvest tomatoes when they are fully colored and slightly soft to the touch. Gently twist and pull from the vine Cabbage: The cabbage head will feel solid when gently squeezed. Cabbage needs to be harvested when it reaches maturity or it will continue to grow and split open. Carrots: Carrots can be hard to judge. The tops of the carrot will show at the soil line and you can gauge when the diameter looks right for your variety. If the diameter looks good, chances are the length is fine too. But you will need to pull one to be certain. Carrots can be left in the ground once mature. A light frost is said to improve and sweeten the carrot’s flavor. Spinach: Spinach goes to seed quickly. Harvest by cutting at the soil line before you see a flower stalk beginning to shoot up. Kale: Kale leaves can be throughout the season. They should be a deep green with a firm, sturdy texture. Kale flavor is best in cooler weather. Pumpkins: Once the pumpkins have turned the expected color and the vines are starting to decline, check to make sure the skin has hardened enough that poking it with your fingernail will not crack it. You don’t want to pick your pumpkin too soon, because it will stop turning orange once it is cut, but don’t leave them out if a hard frost is expected. Peas: The pea pods should look and feel full. Peas are sweeter if harvested before fully plumped. Peas really need to be tasted to determine if they are sweet enough. These vegetables grow through out they year, that means you will always have your fresh kitchen supplies and some for the market supplies to earn you that extra cash. Before you start your gardening it is important that you have enough water for watering your vegetables, and check out the soil PH if it is good for the activity. Plant diseases are also common, but they can be well taken care of immediately once spotted. Chemicals to stop plant diseases are available in the agricultural chemical stores in town. Ends

Lifestyle

IDEAL INTERIORS : VEGETABLE GARDENING