This will be a long explanation on the topic of "how to grow vegetable plants".
Here is a list of topics we have to talk about:
1) Choosing sunny area
2) Choosing the correct time for growing plants
3) Choosing correct plants to grow
4) Tilling the soil
5) Removing grass and roots and rocks from area
6) Breaking up soil at the depth of about 6 inches
7) Making sure soil is flat
8) Properly spacing the seeds and plants
9) Making holes for planting seeds
10) Planting seeds in holes and covering them
11) Watering the seeds
12) Weeding
13) Hoeing and aerating around plants every 7 days
14) Adding soil around plants
15) Watering the plants
16) Fertilizing plants with liquid and granual fertilizer and manure
17) Adding compost
18) Removing of dry and sick leaves from plants
19) Removing sick plants
20) Protection against small pests
21) Protection against animals
22) About mulch and plastic sheeting
23) About greenhouse
24) About transplanting plants
25) About not planting same plant again
26) About companion planting
27) About tree farming combination
28) About raised beds and raised soil
29) About sunken garden beds
30) About harvesting
31) Storing seeds
32) Storing vegetables
Let us begin.
1) Choosing sunny area
Sunlight is needed for plants to grow.
Usually, direct sunlight is the best. Area that receieves lots of sunlight is more suitable for plants.
2) Choosing the correct time for growing plants
Check when to plant seeds of a certain plant. You dont want for your plants to be killed by frost. Some plants tolerate frost better than others. Usually, plants cannot grow outside in winter.
In a greenhouse, Spinach can grow during winter unless its too cold.
3) Choosing correct plants to grow
If you are a beginner, choose easy plants like carrots and beetroots. I made a separate thread about easy plants to grow.
Choose plants you like to eat, if you are planting for yourself.
If you are planting for sale, check which plants are demanded by shops or buyers. Contact shops.
4) Tilling the soil
Soil needs to be tilled for plants to grow. Tilling can be done by tiller or with shovel.
Tilling means to break up soil and turn it over so that grass layer is buried.
You can also simply remove grass layer with a shovel so that you are left with bare soil.
5) Removing grass and roots and rocks from area
Any grass left should be removed. Grass roots and rocks in soil should also be removed.
6) Breaking up soil at the depth of about 6 inches
Breaking up soil so that it is loose and easily penetrated is very important for plant growth.
You can break up soil with rototiller, cultivator or by hand using a hoe or mattock.
7) Making sure soil is flat
Flat soil is easier to work with. Seeds grow better in flat soil rather than in mounds. It is less work.
8) Properly spacing the seeds and plants
This is the most important step to follow. Plants need space. Crowded plants dont grow well.
Make sure there is enough distance between plants, so that plants have enough space for themselves to grow.
9) Making holes for planting seeds
Take a planting stick and poke small holes in the ground. Holes should be properly spaced. Distance between holes should be equal to desired distance between plants that will grow there.
10) Planting seeds in holes and covering them
Place some loose soil or compost at the bottom of every hole. Then place one seed in each hole. Then cover the seed with small amount of loose soil. You should never cover the seed with too much soil, or seed wont sprout.
11) Watering the seeds
Water the seeds with small amount of water after planting. Check the soil every day. If it is dry at surface, water it. To check if it is dry, touch it with finger.
12) Weeding
As the plants start to come up, you should notice if there are any weeds or grass appearing as well. Weeding is the process of pulling grass and weeds from the ground and throwing them away. Weeds and grass are harmful for your plants. As such, you should remove weeds and grass and throw them away.
13) Hoeing and aerating around plants every 7 days
Using a garden hoe, simply break up soil around plants every 7 days. Poke the soil with garden fork to further break up soil around plants.
14) Adding soil around plants
Plants benefit if you add loose soil around them.
You dont need to buy soil for this. Simply use garden hoe to pull the existing soil towards plants. You will be piling up soil around plants, but dont cover plant leaves. Just add 2-3 inches of loose soil around plants. Around smaller plants, less than that. After adding soil, water the plant.
15) Watering the plants
Plants should not be watered often. Water only when top 1 inch of soil is dry. Simply poke the soil with finger. If it feels dry, water the plant.
16) Fertilizing plants with liquid and granual fertilizer and manure
If you are using liquid fertilizer, use it every time you water. Just make sure you add enough water to it so it doesnt harm the plant. Use the fertilizer as it is instructed on the label.
Granual fertilizer you should add around plants, but not too much. Just enough. Again, follow label instructions.
17) Adding compost
Instead of adding garden soil around plants, you can add compost. Compost will improve the soil and make it more loose and provide some nutrients.
18) Removing of dry and sick leaves from plants
If you see dry leaf or sick leaf, remove it. It will make the plant grow better and prevent further diseases.
19) Removing sick plants
If the entire plant is sick, remove it and throw it away so it doesnt spread diseases to other plants.
20) Protection against small pests
If you are having problem with certain pest, search online for natural solution. Usually, spraying plants with natural pesticide made from stinging nettle helps a lot. Properly spacing plants helps too.
21) Protection against animals
This is usually done with a fence, or simply hunting animals that cause problems, or getting a guard dog.
22) About mulch and plastic sheeting
Mulch can help eliminate weeds and improve soil. It can also attract pests such as slugs, so be careful if you decide to use it.
Plastic sheeting covers the soil around plants, so that there is no need for weeding or hoeing.
23) About greenhouse
Greenhouse allows you to grow plants during winter. It protects plants from frost and from too much rain that would cause soil compaction.
24) About transplanting plants
Instead of sowing seeds outside, you can sow lots of seeds inside in containers. When they grow into small plants, transplant those plants outside. During transplanting, try to bury the plants deeper than they were in container.
25) About not planting same plant again
The basic way to fight against pests and diseases is not to plant same plant in same area over and over. Each plant has different set of pests attacking it. Changing plants you grow disturbs the pest's food supply.
26) About companion planting
Certain plants grow better when placed near certain other plants. Check which plant works with plant that you want to grow.
27) About tree farming combination
Planting trees in your garden could help retain moisture and prevent soil erosion, as well as provide fruit.
28) About raised beds and raised soil
We already had a thread about raised beds. Easy way to make them is out of cardboard boxes. Soil raised above ground level could help plants with growth.
29) About sunken garden beds
Opposite of raised soil, sunken bed means planting below ground level. This is not recommended in areas with lots of rain, as it can cause soil compaction.
30) About harvesting
You should harvest plants properly. Some are harvested all at once. Some are harvested throughout the year. Research about specific plants you want to grow.
31) Storing seeds
Seeds should be stored in jars at a dry place.
32) Storing vegetables
Some vegetables can be left in ground to be used for later. Greenhouse provides constant supply of vegetables, removing the need for storage over winter. Vegetables can be dried, or stored at a suitable place so they last longer. There were threads about storing food before.
That comcludes our thread. If you have any suggestions, please add them.