Vegetable Gardening for Beginners (Part 1)

If you are planting tomatoes, cabbage, or lettuce for the first time, read on! In this blog post, you will learn everything you need to know about planting a vegetable garden as a beginner.

Do you know that if you plant a tomato plant, it can provide you with 10 pounds of fruit over the course of a season? As you can see, having your own vegetable garden at home is not only fun, it’s a great way to save money.

Another reason for you to plant your own vegetable garden is that the flavor and the texture of varieties of vegetables are much better than the ones you buy from the grocery store. There is nothing better than to enjoy delicious, sun-warmed tomatoes fresh from your backyard.

And believe me, growing vegetables in containers and raised beds is a lot of fun. Plus is a great way to spend time outdoors in the sun. With this blog post, we hope that you can get the best vegetable garden this season.

Deciding What to Plant

The top 7 easy-to-grow vegetable plants for beginners are:

1. Okra Kacang Bendi
2. Amaranth Bayam
3. Cabai / Chili
4. Kangkong
5. Sawi Hijau / Choy Sum
6. Lettuce
7. Pak choi

This way it will be easier to get started. If you plant it right, you can have a container vegetable garden or raised vegetable garden without having to spend hours tending to it. At the beginning of the season, it is very common to get too excited and plant more vegetables than you need.

Before you decide which vegetable to grow, think about how much you and your family will eat. It is also a good idea to know what vegetables grow best in your area, and the best time for planting them.

In Malaysia, there are many places where you can buy vegetable seeds so you will not have any problem finding the plants for you. You can even buy vegetable and herb seeds online, and this gives you the convenience to plant almost any plant you want.

Besides, keep in mind that vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and squash keep providing throughout the season, so you may not need many plants for your needs. But vegetables, such as carrots, radishes, and corn produce only once.

How Much Space Do You Need

Once you know what to plant, you need to buy your vegetable seeds and figure out the right amount of space you need. Remember you don’t always need a large space to begin with.

For example, if you want to grow vegetables in containers, you don’t even need a yard; all you need is a deck or balcony that will provide plenty of space.

It is important to keep your growing space healthy. A good size for a beginner’s vegetable garden is about 16 X 10 feet, which can feed a family of four for one summer, with a little leftover for canning and freezing, and some for your friends and family.

How to Pick the Perfect Spot

No matter what you are going to plant — herbs, microgreens, or vegetables — the first thing to do is to pick the perfect spot to do it.

There are 3 basic requirements for your vegetable garden to become a success:

Sun

The majority of vegetables need at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight. Some microgreens need almost 18 hours of light but worry not, you can use a light lamp or a mat to keep them warm. So it is very important that the spot you pick offers ample sunlight.

Keep in mind that the soil temperature depends on the sun to keep the vegetables going and become resistant to insects and disease.

Make sure you plant your bed vegetable garden in a place that is exposed to light most of the day. The more sunlight they receive, the greater the harvest, the bigger the veggies, and the better the taste.

But don’t worry if you don’t have a spot in full sun because you can still grow vegetables like lettuce and spinach. And if you live in a place where the climate is hot, other plants, such as peas may do better in part shade.

So when you buy vegetable seeds online or in the store, ask how much sun they need per day to avoid any potential issues.

b. Water

It is a good idea to find a spot to plant your vegetable garden closer to the water source as this can make all the work easier for you.

Remember you will need to give them water during dry spells, especially when planting tomatoes, peppers, or any other warm-season vegetable.

 c. Soil

Having good soil is essential. The soil should be:

• Moist, well-drained and
• Rich in organic matter, such as compost or peat moss.

It is a good idea to use a soil thermometer to track the soil temperature, which is vital to keep your vegetables alive and well.

Stable Environment

Finally, choose a stable environment in which it will not flood during heavy rains. Avoid places with strong winds that could knock over your young vegetables or keep pollinators from doing their jobs.

Happy planting!

*Continue reading the Part 2.