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Do you dream about vegetables and fruits from your own vegetable garden on your plate? Growing your own fruits and vegetables is one of the most rewarding activities you can do to improve the quality of your life. It’s becoming increasingly common among people who seek a more sustainable and healthier lifestyle.
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You will be pleasantly surprised as you explore the variety of plants you can grow on the windowsill and other bright areas such as the terrace, balcony, walls, stairs, entrances, etc. throughout the year. This is an educational trip like no other, it is a completely unique experience, as there is nothing like freshly picked and grown produce on-site with amazing flavors and great nutritional value! Plus, growing your own at home as a family project can also inspire the younger generation to practice gardening.
Here are our 5 easy steps to getting started:
Step 1.
Prepare to plant:
Choose a variety of fruit and vegetables.
Prepare the soil — Use an organic-matter-rich potting soil.
Choose a small container if you prefer to start from seeds and/or a container large enough to allow the plants to develop a good root system if you prefer to start with potted plants.
Step 2.
How to plant:
Fill a container with potting soil, almost to the top.
Sow 1 to 2 seeds following the instructions on the seed package. A suitable sowing depth is usually about twice the diameter of the seed.
Lightly cover with soil and then moisten soil by watering gently.
When seedlings have their first set of true leaves, transplant them carefully into another container to give them more room to develop.
To transplant:
Carefully dig up the seedlings from the sowing container using a butter knife.
Make a hole in the prepared container large enough for a seedling and its complete root balls, making sure that it is planted at the same depth as previously.
Backfill around the seedling and firm the soil.
Water the seedling gently.
Step 3.
Keep your plants healthy:
Water regularly, without over-saturating. Daily observation may be beneficial.
Find a sunny spot for your plants to live. Most plants need at least six hours of direct sun per day.
Step 4.
Harvesting:
Timely harvest.
Carefully watch to be sure that they do not get overly ripe before you harvest them. If you're unsure whether a crop is ready or not, trust your taste buds to help you decide.
Step 5.
Enjoy!
The best feeling comes from knowing that you've grown it yourself, and the sense of satisfaction you'll feel is simply priceless.
Equipment List
To plant in containers (pots, grow bags, etc.), you'll need:
Seeds or potted seedlings
Small containers of 9 to10 cm for sowing seeds
Large diameter containers of at least 25 to 30 cm for transplanting seedlings
Potting soil for fruits and vegetables
A small shovel trowel
A watering can
Garden gloves (optional)
Top Tips to Getting Started
Start simple. It's best to start with vegetables that are easy to grow or grow quickly, and that you particularly enjoy eating. For example, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, bell peppers, and onions will do reasonably well. You may like to keep a diary or use a calendar.
Make sure to select containers with adequate drainage holes. Choose a pot large or deep enough to accommodate the root system. Research the size of the plant. Typical containers are measured by the opening at the top or diameter, in centimeters, or by their volumes, in liters. A minimum container volume of 20 liters and/or with at least 25 to 30 cm diameter, works well for popular vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers.
A single container can house one crop or combine different vegetables in favorable associations. Check the seed package for spacing. Group plants that have similar water and sunlight requirements.
To produce healthy seedlings from seeds, the potting soil should be friable with good water retention capacity, free from pathogens and weed-seed contamination.
The seed should be sown in trays with potting mixture, preferably in organic-matter-rich soil, deep enough to allow the plants to develop a good root system. Research the potting soil carefully, as it often happens that there are fungus gnat larvae in the potting soil.
Don’t be too ambitious to start with. Two or three large containers would be ideal starting points.
Don't forget to label your containers with the plant's name and the date!
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References
Durham, R., Rudolph, R., Williams, M., Wright, S., Bessin, R., Lee, B. 2014. Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky. University of Kentucky: College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 56 p. https://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/ID/ID128/ID128.pdf
Leskovar, D.I. 2020. Transplanting. In Wien, H.C., Stützel, H. (Eds.) The Physiology of Vegetable Crops, 2nd ed.; CABI: Oxfordshire, UK. pp. 31–60. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1079/9781786393777.0031