Growing your own gardens can be an amazing thing and over the last decade I have learned about all different styles of growing plants. Years ago, when I first became in love with gardening, I would just till up the yard and plant my seeds hoping for the best. Unfortunately, I didn’t know about having the proper soil or how to keep pest from destroying my plants. I soon learned about using the right soil and making my own beneficial soil. I also learned different methods of keeping pest way from my plants or how to make home remedies to destroy them if they appeared. Another lesson I learned was dealing with gardening with a short season in a colder climate since I lived in the pacific northwest. I used to think that a person needed a huge yard to have a successful garden but I was wrong.
There are a few different methods of starting and growing your own garden. A garden can be planted in a wide open space or on a small porch. You can even grow some vegetables inside year-round. With the cost of produce today I’d like to talk about some of the best types of starting your own garden. Plants can be grown straight in the ground or in pots. They can be planted in raised beds or bays of straw. Hydroponics and even aquaponics has become a popular method of gardening.
I’d like to show a list of different types of gardening and talk about some of the benefits and disadvantages of each method. We will show that no matter if you live in a small apartment of a large home anyone can start growing their own garden. Having the ability to harvest your own vegetables and herbs is amazing. Eating healthy and be self-sufficient is one of the best things we can do for ourselves. So, with further do let’s get right to it.
In Ground Gardening
Planting your garden straight in the ground can be a great way to save money. Grass can be removed, and the ground can be tilled. It’s best to remove as many rocks and weeds as possible to grow your plants. Depending on where you live the soil may already be rich and fertile. It’s a good idea to add compost to your own soil to ensure having healthy plants. If you have a big enough yard, this method can be a great way to go. Growing in flat or raised rows is the best way of producing a lot of food with this type of gardening.
Growing straight in the grown can come with many disadvantages. In colder climates the ground may stay colder later in the year. This can cause a shorter grow season. Growing plants on the ground level will typically come with more pest. You may find yourself spending more time with an in-ground garden due to weeding and doing pest control. Growing in flat rows can be the easiest way but can have water drainage problems. Raised rows is probably the better option because it will give better water drainage. It will come with the headache of having to add soil over time to your rows as they will slowly become flat. If you live in a smaller place or aren’t able to start ripping up the yard, then this type of gardening won’t work for you.
In-ground gardening has been my method of gardening for years. I’ve learned different ways of fertilizing soil and make my own compost. I have learned about beneficial herbs that help with natural pest control. Layering your in-ground gardening with seedless hay or straw, dried leaves and compost is a good method for keeping your soil ready to produce quality vegetables.
Raised Beds
Growing vegetables in raised garden beds is one of the most beneficial ways to garden but can come with a cost. Raised beds are made in deep or bottomless containers giving plants all the room for their roots. You do not have to worry about to much clay, in your soil. You don’t have to worry about a rocky ground. Having raised beds will offer excellent water drainage for your plant roots ensuring healthy plants. There will be fewer pest problems having your vegetables raised off of the grown. You will thank your back and knee’s for not having to bend over all the time while tending to the garden. There will be next to know weeding in a raised bed. You get to create and choose your own soil in a raised bed. This method can produce a lot of vegetables in a small space since you won’t have to deal with all the possible disadvantages of growing in the ground.
Getting raised garden beds started can be costly. You will need to buy or build your garden beds. It will take a good amount of soil to fill your beds and can add up in cost if you haven’t already been making your own soil.
Growing in raised beds is probably my favorite method because it has so many benefits. Yes, it can cost during start up, but it is worth it in the long run. Keep in mind to take the time to plan where you want to put your raised garden because there won’t be any moving it once it’s there.
Straw Bale Gardening
Straw bale gardening is another awesome type of method to growing healthy plants. Bales of straw are generally cheap. It can be a great way to save your back because it is another type of raised bed.
Plants will get lots of nutrients when doing this method.
Although this is a great way to start an easy backyard garden it can slowly breakdown over time. This means you will have to add soil over time as it will slowly compost, and you will find yourself bending over further.
Container Gardening
This is someone’s best bet if you live in a smaller home or apartment! A few pots and some potting soil and you are good to start planting seeds.
If you’re thinking about starting to grow in containers than I’d also recommend hanging plants. This is a good way to get more for your space. By having plants grow on top of one another you can have a much larger harvest.
Hydroponic and Aquaponic Gardening
Starting a hydroponic garden can be costly at first but can offer tons of benefits to come!
Similar to a hydroponic set up you can set up a really cool aquaponic garden!
Square Foot and Vertical Gardening
If you are traveling to another country, it’s always a good idea to bring your credit card from your home country with you. You don’t want to rely on just one or two cards when travelling because that could be risky if one of them gets lost or stolen.
I always bring my credit card from home, as well as one from the place I’m going or alternatively an international card such as Revolut. In case anything happens, I always have a way to get money and communicate with people at home.
What are your own best travel hacks?
Traveling can be a stressful and terrifying experience, but it doesn’t have to be.
By following these simple tips, you will always know what to expect, where your passport is at all times, how much money you’re spending on flights and accommodations (and when), and most importantly, that you are ready in case of emergency.
What are some of your own best traveling hacks? Share them with us b