Creating your home garden is not as complicated as it seems. It is a matter of finding the right space, having determination and a lot of patience and taking into account these tips that we present to you today.
A garden at home can become the first step to create a healthier and more responsible lifestyle with the environment and society, which is why more and more people decide to start growing certain foods in their own space.
Benefits of having a garden at home:
- You get a healthier diet at a better price
- Fresh food throughout the year
- Are you aware of what you eat?
- Create a greater bond with nature
- Reduce our carbon footprint
- As a family activity, it encourages coexistence outdoors
- On an individual level, it offers you a space for relaxation
- You contribute to increase the green areas of the city
- It can become an alternative source of income
What do you need to create a garden at home?
PLACE : The first step to create your garden at home is to define the place. For this you must take into account two basic factors: light and water. In an urban home it can be difficult to find the ideal space and we must adjust to what we have, but as far as possible, choose a place that has direct natural light and that has a nearby water intake that facilitates watering. You can condition a space in your patio, terrace, balcony or roof, always considering that it has access to electricity and water.
CONTAINERS: Once you have decided where in your house you will create your garden, it is time to look for the pots that you will use to plant. Although there are innumerable options for planting at home on the market, organizations such as Greenpeace recommend buying as little as possible and using recycled materials, objects that we already have at home or that we can easily get in our community, for example, old boxes, plastic bottles or huacales. But if you want your garden to harmonize with the decoration of your home, it is likely that you prefer to buy pots, drawers or cultivation tables, or vertical planters, an excellent option for small spaces.
LAND: Choosing the land that you will use in your garden is not something that you should take lightly, as plants need a nutrient-rich substrate to grow. Experts recommend using soil that is as close as possible to the type of substrate in which certain plants would naturally grow. A common mistake is to use the soil that we use for ornamental plants, but beware: if you are trying to grow food, you must have a substrate that has nutrients and retains moisture. But don’t stress, in nurseries it’s easy to get special soil for orchards.
PREPARATION. If you are going to use a grow box, you have to prepare it by first placing a layer of gravel in the bottom to create a drainage surface and prevent the roots from waterlogging. Next, fill the drawer with the substrate you have chosen, making sure that it is loose and that it does not reach the edge of the container. And then yes, you are ready to sow seeds or sprouts.
FLOORS. Surely you are wondering which plants are the right ones to plant in your urban garden. Of course, it depends a lot on the type of vegetables you like to eat, but you also have to take into account what is possible to grow on that scale. If it is your first garden, start with simple crops such as lettuce, beets, radish, serrano pepper, spinach, tomato, broccoli or chard. Do not forget about aromatic plants, which can help you control some pests.
Other tips to keep in mind:
- Start with a small garden; If you are a beginner, do not try to start big, as this can cause you frustration if the results are not what you expected. Also, it is better to start experimenting small before investing large amounts in your garden.
- It is recommended that you start sowing sprouts instead of seeds, of course, when the plant allows it. If you are going to use sprouts, avoid mistreating the roots.
- Rotate your vegetables, that is, do not plant the same species in a container twice in a row, as a crop can deplete some specific nutrients from the soil, which will cause poor results in the second round.
- Plants also need fertilizers, choose one that contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, compounds that must be present in the soil for your crops to feed and develop.
- A cultivation box approximately 1 meter long can weigh 100 kilos, so you should consider whether the place where you will place your garden is adequate to support the weight.
