How Important Is Gardening In Homesteading? Homesteading teaches you a life of self-sufficiency. Growing food supply for yourself and your family is basic. This lifestyle shows you the ropes of living life off the land. When you know how to grow your own vegetables and harvest crops, your dependence on store-bought produce lessens.
Don’t worry if you are not a pro at gardening. You cannot switch from regular life to a life of self-sufficiency in a snap, can you? Living off the garden right away is an absurd expectation. Take smaller steps instead. Learn ways to harvest and grow fine-quality organic produce.
How to set up a homestead garden?
Start small! Gardening does not come naturally to all and sundry. As simple as it sounds, growing tomatoes can be challenging if you are not aware of the do’s and don’ts. Reaping a variety of produce is mammoth. Detailed research and a little practice could work wonders in helping you lay out a beautiful homestead garden.
Wondering what should you learn about gardening? Basic things like:
– Which crop could you grow, given the soil and the climate of your place?
– How to treat the soil?
– Some knowledge on irrigation
– Essential tips associated with organic farming.
Once you know a few things about gardening, it is time to get started. Listing down a few tips to help you get started.
1. Choose crops and plants that will contribute to your lifestyle
Are you blown away by the idea of setting up a huge homestead garden? Is planting a variety of vegetables and fauna on your mind? It is essential to consider a few factors before you go all out. Think about the basic plant care routine for instance. Different plants have different care routines. Some crops require little to no human involvement. There are others that need constant care and work to flourish.
Consider brainstorming about factors like light. If your garden area is exposed to less light, focus on plants that can grow well in shade. Caladiums for example. When you are starting out, it is good to stick with crops that need less work and care.
2. Prep the garden soil
Doesn’t matter whether you are kicking off gardening in a container or acres of free land, learning about the ideal soil for your plant is a must. Growing veggies is a fun drill. In order to get hands on good quality produce, you should keep your eyes on the mix of soil. Add peat moss or vermiculite to the soil. You can throw in food scraps to create natural compost.
The idea is to enrich the soil with potassium, phosphorous, nitrogen, and other compounds. It is undeniably a better alternative to chemical fertilizers and composts. When the soil is good, plants thrive.
3. High yield crops should be your first pick
Isn’t it fun to watch vegetables grow and enough to suffice you for the season? When you choose to go with high-yielding plants, you can reap the fruits of your effort in very little time. Perennials, on the other hand, will take a whole year to thrive. The produce springs up even later.
Start with tomatoes or lettuce. It is easier to cultivate the veggie and a few other leafy greens. Perennials are the best fit for long-term garden goals.
4. Do not skip planning the irrigation for your garden
Exposing your garden to dry spells is not good. You must ensure that a decent flow of water is available at all times. Rain barrels could be a great resort. If you are okay with watering your garden using a hose, it does the job as well. Sifting out recycled water for gardening purposes is a good idea. However, make sure that the water is not laded with soap and chemicals.
Small things like planning what to grow in your garden could help you reap great produce. Create your homestead garden without any hassle using these tips.
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