2020 Norc

Growing Vegetables And Herbs In A Small Backyard Area

Growing vegetables and herbs do not require a lot of space – in fact, even the complete absence of a personal plot is not an obstacle for it because often just the presence of a flower pot, soil, water and sunlight is enough. Moreover, breeders are aware of the desire of “home gardeners” to get a good harvest in a small area and are breeding varieties that can grow in limited space or even grow on a windowsill all year round.

Small Garden Plot

In the past, gardening was like the “poor relative” of decorative floriculture. There were borders of perennial flowers in the foreground and large, untidy vegetable gardens hidden in the backyard, intended only for food production, not beauty.

Plant Breeding

Nowadays, when vegetables have taken a more significant place on the table, they are gaining more and more respect in the gardening world. With an increase in interest in them from “home gardeners,” there has been a surge in both the planting of seeds of non-hybrid varieties and the breeding of new hybrid varieties, the features of which are the colourfulness of the fruits, ethnic orientation and compactness.

Having a large free area is not a prerequisite for creating a vegetable garden. What it really requires is good soil, plenty of sunlight, a source of water, and perhaps a fence since wild animals will be very keen to visit the new bed.

If you have a sunny patch of space in your yard or even on your patio, you can most likely grow herbs and vegetables. Below, we will tell you how to get started.

Play Video
Selecting A Location

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectet

When choosing a place to grow vegetables, the following aspects should be taken into account:

ur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Solar Lighting

Vegetable crops should be exposed to sunlight for at least six hours a day – if this condition is not met, the fruits will not ripen, and the plants will experience stress. However, there are appropriate plant species that can be grown in light shade – these include, for example, greens (particularly lettuce) and brassicas (particularly broccoli).

Water

Vegetable crops also require regular watering; if this is not provided, the vegetables will not become heavy, and some (for example, tomatoes) may even crack if they are suddenly filled with water after a prolonged lack of water.

You can’t rely on rain alone. If you have available funds, you can install a drip irrigation system, which will be a definite plus when cultivating a garden. New modular systems are really quite easy to install and are much cheaper than many people think. In addition, you will save money on water since it will flow directly to the roots of the plants, resulting in less evaporation.

In this regard, even a simple “oozing” hose is better than a spray (sprinkler) system, which heavily moistens the leaves, creating the risk of rotting and wilting of plants and their damage by fungal diseases.

If you do not want to use drip irrigation, then place your garden near a water tap – it will be easier for you to force yourself to water if you don’t have to drag the hose or watering can too far.

The Soil

This aspect is very important – vegetable crops require soil rich in organic matter. The quality of the soil is of great importance for all plants, but for vegetable crops -especially since the taste of the fruit depends on it. In particular, it is precisely because of the quality of the soil that the taste of wine made from the same grape variety but grown in different regions and the degree of spiciness of pepper grown in different places differ.

If you can provide enough sunlight and water and good soil quality, you will be able to grow a vegetable garden.

How To Care For Plants

If you are here reading this article, it is probably because you are either considering the idea of ​​beautifying your home and accompanying it with some plants, or you already have them. Still, you cannot get them to grow and develop as they should. We can all enjoy the company of plants in our homes, which help us improve the environment and relax both indoors and in the garden. Caring for plants is actually quite simple once you learn the basics.

Irrigation

The vast majority of plants do not tolerate waterlogging in their soil or substrate, so watering them in excessive quantities is one of the main causes of the death of plants in the home. It is much better to water often and in small quantities than to do it a little or a lot, although this is easier. Drought-resistant plants, such as cacti and succulents in general, are especially vulnerable to waterlogging.

Humidity of floor

Another basic care for plants is to check the humidity of the soil where they are planted. If you are not sure whether your plant needs watering or not, stick a small toothpick or even your finger into the substrate next to the plant without damaging it. If the soil is moistit will stick to the stick or your finger, and, normally, this means that it does not need watering yet.

Indirect light

If you are not sure if a plant is a sun or shade plant and you cannot find information, there is a formula that always works: give it abundant, indirect light. Some plants do not tolerate direct sun, which burns their leaves, while others do not thrive in the shade. The solution is:

  • Indoors: place them in a bright room near a window that filters the light with a curtain.
  • Outdoors: place them where they are protected from the midday sun and only receive morning or afternoon light.

Cold

Very few plants tolerate frost: if you live in an area where winters are very cold, you will have to look for seasonal plants or those that especially tolerate that type of climate. You can use specific fabrics to keep plants covered in winter, which will help them retain temperature. Likewise, quilting can help.

Heat

Many desert or Mediterranean species are adapted to hot summers, but many others do not tolerate temperatures above 30ºC well, and even less so in the sun. Water them more often and find shade, especially during the hottest hours.

You can visit these other two articles on Sun-resistant flowering garden plants or Shade plants.

Universal substrate

There are plants with specific needs in terms of substrate, such as acidophilic plants, and others that are not demanding at all. However, you can prepare a universal mixture yourself that will be excellent for a very high percentage of them: mix equal parts peat, coconut fibre and worm castings, and then add a few handfuls of vermiculite and perlite. You will have a very light mixture with excellent drainage and rich in nutrients and beneficial microorganisms, ideal even for seedbeds.

Pots with drainage holes

Again, insisting on drainage, the pot in which you place your plant must have holes through which excess water can escape when watering. Indoors, you can place a plate under the pot and remove the excess water about ten minutes after watering.

Organic fertilizers

Despite popular belief, plants don’t live on sun and water alone: ​​they need nutrients. They extract them from the ground, but as they develop, they use up those available to them, especially in pots, and they must be renewed. Always fertilize in spring and summer, during the active months, once every 15 days whenever you can, use organic and ecological fertilizers, such as worm castings or compost, which you can make yourself.

Maintenance pruning

Whenever you see wilted leaves or flowers on your plant or blackened stems that look bad, take the sharpest scissors you have, disinfect the edge and prune or remove anything that is in poor condition. In this way, the plant does not waste energy or nutrients feeding parts that will end up dying anyway and can focus on its healthy stems or branches, which will develop better.…

How Much Free Space Is Required For A Small Garden

Of course, a small garden is not enough to fully satisfy your needs for appropriate products. Still, you can grow, for example, delicious tomatoes, beautiful eggplants or a large amount of herbs. If the space that can be allocated for a vegetable garden is limited, then think about which vegetables you can buy fresh without any problems and which ones you don’t have enough of or which ones you love the most.

Compact varieties

If you want to plant giant Oxheart tomatoes or sweet corn in your small garden, then, due to limited space, you are unlikely to have much room left for anything else. But you can choose varieties bred specifically for growing in a small area – their names usually contain words indicating a small size. Just because a plant grows small does not mean it produces small fruit or that its yield is low.

As a rule, when purchasing seeds and seedlings, the adult size of the selected plants is known, taking into account that you can estimate the future location of plantings and their maximum possible number. Most likely, you, like most gardeners, will want to plant as many plants as possible so that later, if necessary, you can thin them out. This is one way to get a high yield from a limited area, but it is not the best.

If you really have little space at your disposal, then plant vegetables between the flowers – nowhere does it say that you can’t do this. This planting arrangement makes harvesting somewhat more difficult, but many vegetable plants look beautiful and can act as ornamentals, while the flowers will attract more pollinators to them.

Climbing plants

If you want to get a greater variety of fruits in your garden, then, in addition to compact varieties, pay attention to climbing plants that can be planted on supports. For example, climbing beans and climbing cucumbers take up less space than their bush counterparts.

Planting companion plants

Reducing pest infestation is often cited as the main benefit of planting companion plants together, but it also saves space. Shade-tolerant plants benefit from being planted near taller crops. Basil does not like the hot sun and feels great next to tomatoes. Lettuce will grow successfully all summer in the shade of almost any taller plant. Early vegetable crops such as spinach, radishes and peas can be planted next to slower-growing crops such as broccoli or peppers, which will begin to take over after the spring harvest.

Sequential landing

The succession planting method is suitable for both large and small gardens, but its benefits are more important when space is limited. This method consists of re-seeding fast-growing crops every two to three weeks during the growing season. It is especially useful for plants such as beans, squash and lettuce, which tend to become depleted quickly. By using the succession planting method, you can produce enough to meet your family’s needs all summer long.…

Indoor or Outdoor Plant

The following tips will be more universal, but the golden rule is to know our plant well, which is why there is the first one. Although most plants that are commonly grown share many of their needs, each species can be different, and some have very specific and specific needs. Find out what the species of your plants are and what their particular needs are. For example, finding out how to care for an indoor plant will not be the same as an outdoor plant.

Tips and recommendations to care for your plants

Before moving on to caring for the garden as a whole, you should pay attention to the plants that make up this small natural space in your house; the best tips and recommendations for caring for them are listed below:

Find out about the plants you have: Although they may seem very similar, each garden plant has its characteristics, which means that each plant must be cared for differently and specifically in order to bring out its greatest natural splendour. Therefore, the key is to know well the type of plant you have in your care!

Place the plants in the most suitable place: Based on the previous recommendation, you must place that plant in the most suitable place possible, checking in the process that it receives enough sun without having to move it in different ways.

Always use the best quality soil: This advice is especially indicated for those people who want to transplant a plant from one pot to another. Therefore, the better the soil with which the plant is transplanted, the better the results and the good health of the plant will be.

The plant’s pot must have a hole inside. Although there are all kinds of different pots today, the truth in these cases is that all of these pots must have a hole with which to ensure that the plant can drain. Excess water when watering. In this sense, it is recommended that a small plate be placed under the plant and the pot so that it does not get wet and damage the furniture where the entire plant could be refilled.

Remove dry and withered flowers or leaves: Keeping a plant in good condition requires removing the withered or damaged parts, which is why the help of small scissors or a manual pruner is necessary to remove these withered sections of the plant. If you do this, you will be preventing the plant from wasting its energy on leaves or branches that will no longer thrive.

Keep your plants away from direct heat sources: Plants depend greatly on natural environmental conditions to grow healthy and strong, and their development is greatly harmed if heat is supplied artificially or indirectly (certain conditions apply, of course). So, to avoid problems, try to keep your plants away from a direct heat source.

Opt for natural fertilizers: Although the soil is of the best possible quality, this does not mean that it does not lose nutrients over time. Therefore, it is convenient to nourish the land with natural fertilizers of the highest quality; recommend that you apply this fertilizer during seasonal changes. This way, the soil will have an extra boost of nutrients and vitamins to make the plant grow properly!

How To Decorate A Backyard

Landscaping your backyard sometimes just requires an idea, which may not always cost a lot. Designers offer many ingenious and simple ideas for territory design. You just need to choose the appropriate option for your home.

Original paving

An excellent solution would be non-standard paving of the internal territory. You can create a small patio, islands of tiles around flower beds, a veranda or a swing. Here, paved areas perform 2 functions: aesthetics and zoning.

Creating a stream

If you have a problem area that is often flooded with underwater water, creating a stream would be an ideal option. Let the problem become the highlight of the landscape design. The edges must be protected with large stones and moisture-loving plants.

Decorate a high terrace.

If, when going out onto the terrace, unsightly high supports are visible, designers suggest covering them with tall shrubs and flowers. It is better to choose perennials: sedum, Black-eyed Susan and lush ornamental grasses.

Podium

You can decorate the backyard of a private house by creating a podium. A living curtain of tall tropical grasses and plants will add height and dimension to a small area.

Decoration of the main entrance

Many people wonder how to decorate their backyard. An overgrown path or rusty gate will spoil the impression. A luxurious pavilion made of wood or other materials will add sophistication to the entire area. If you plant climbing roses at the entrance, they will give fragrance and a beautiful appearance.

Private area with curtains

For a secluded corner, you can make a terrace, gazebo, or patio. Waterproof thick curtains will provide excellent protection from scorching sun rays, wind and prying eyes. For example, bright orange curtains and chair cushions of the same shade will create a great mood.

Change an unsightly landscape.

An original corner made of a high wooden lattice will help to cover up neighbours or an unsightly view (post). It is easy to entwine it with climbing plants or plant a tall, spreading tree.

You can install here a couple of armchairs with soft cushions and a coffee table, with their backs facing the pillar. Surround the shady corner with flowers.

Patio below

Sometimes, the site is on a slope, and the best option would be to dig up part of the territory for a private recreation area. You can decorate your backyard design with a small patio.

To make it look elegant and voluminous, it is recommended to lower the level. Make a semicircle out of a brick wall to prevent the slope from collapsing. Lay it out with stones and tiles on the floor. Metal or wicker furniture would be a good solution.

Pond with sky reflection

The long courtyard seems very large. Designers propose making a small pond out of stone, where water lilies and other plants float. It is effective to use a black lining for the bottom to better reflect the sky or floating clouds in the water.

You can admire it nearby on a soft sofa and armchairs or plant multi-tiered plants around the perimeter of the yard to add volume to the area.

Multipurpose yard

The most successful courtyards with multiple purposes. This could be a patio on a stone floor with a fire pit and a terrace above the house. This is used effectively in small yards.

Pergola or gazebo

A pergola or gazebo will help create an elegant entrance to the backyard. When planning, autonomous elements look more impressive.

If you have chosen a metal gazebo for the recreation area, weaving grapes or roses will look beautiful. If there is a high fence nearby, you can decorate it with vertical plants, creating a tent of luxurious greenery.