Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
an indication of how much water various spots in your garden
receive from the sprinkler in an hour.
If you live in an area that gets a lot of rainfall, consider investing in
a rain gauge. It will help you keep track of the amount of water your
vegetable garden receives. If you get too little water, the vegetable
plant roots won't be able to grow deep enough to reach the reserves
of water and nutrients in the soil. Too much water will saturate the
soil, reducing the amount of air space needed for the vegetable roots
to grow strong, deep, and healthy. Either is harmful to your veget-
able plants, and stressed plants will not produce as much.
Designing Your Site
Now that you know your climate zone and you've evaluated your
sources of light and water, it is time to decide how you want to grow
your vegetables. What space is available to you? Do you have a tiny
balcony, porch, patio, or alleyway only big enough for a few pots? Or
is the space a large patio that will enable you to have some larger
planter boxes, perhaps to grow a dwarf fruit tree? Is the space fairly
flat and rows will work best for you? Do you have poor soil and a
raised bed would be the best option? These are all great ways to
grow a fabulous vegetable garden. Consider the following design
options to see what's best for you.
Container Gardening
If you live in the middle of a city and the only sunny area you have
available is on a balcony, porch, or in some other small space, grow-
ing in containers is the perfect option to make a lovely vegetable
garden. Containers come in various sizes and can sit or hang in your
space. Some vegetables grow better in containers than others, so to
