Growing Your Own Homegrown Vegetables

Introduction

When it comes to gardening, raising homegrown vegetables can be one of the most rewarding efforts of all. A vegetable patch has lush, green foliage and flowers in many colors and forms. But best of all, the fresh food that the garden provides is full of nutrients. It's beautiful, as well. The shiny, deep-purple skin of ripe eggplants, the bright orange of carrots and the subtle green of zucchini all have beauty and grace. Succulent homegrown tomatoes, fresh-picked snap beans and delicate, leafy green lettuce bring delicious flavors to your dinner table. Whether you have a small property, sizeable yard or just a patio with pots, raising your own vegetables saves money at the grocery store.

History

Producing homegrown food used to be a necessity, but with increased transportation capabilities over the last century, many families came to rely on their grocer to provide vegetables. Pure, fresh flavors were hard to come by because many of the vegetables had to be picked before their prime and stored before they made it to the grocery store produce department. Families that had a little property often raised their own homegrown vegetables for fresh eating and to preserve for use in the winter months. As grocery prices increased and the economy became difficult, more and more families transformed a portion of their property into vegetable gardens. In many cases, raising homegrown vegetables moved from being a hobby to a routine activity in order to save money on fresh food.

Features

Well-prepared soil yields the highest volume of high-quality homegrown vegetables. A big part of gardening is adding compost and organic material to the ground before planting seeds or vegetable plants. Make your own compost from kitchen scraps, leaves and grass clippings. Many municipalities have composting centers where you can obtain material to work into your own ground in preparation for planting.

Growing food from seed can be fun, but planting some vegetables that have already been started in a nursery gives you a head start. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and cucumbers all do best when you set out plants. For corn and root vegetables like carrots, beets and bunching onions, plant the seeds directly in the soil when the ground has warmed from the spring sunshine.

Good watering practices ensure plump, well-formed homegrown vegetables. Apply water frequently to seedlings and newly planted vegetables. When the plants are established, reduce the frequency of watering and increase the volume to ensure that the roots are well hydrated. Spread mulch around plants to retain moisture in the ground. The mulch will also help suppress weeds from growing in the vegetable garden.

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