Gardening can be a fun and relaxing activity to immerse yourself in nature.
you’re able to also do this to improve your physical activity at home.
Vegetable gardening is a popular activitythat has seen growth in previous years.
The US household participation in it reached 39.1 million in 2020.
As vegetable gardening sees a steady participation increase, it might be time for you to join.
If youre a beginner, keep reading to know the ideal plants to grow to start your vegetable garden.
Additionally, it may give you plenty of benefits to help improve your quality of life.
The first benefit you’re free to get from vegetable gardening is accessible plant-based foods.
With homegrown vegetables, you could harvest them quickly when its time.
Youll also know theyre safe because you planted them.
Gardening itself can serve as an exercise to boost your productivity and relieve your stress.
It may help you relax and unwind.
When you cook and eat yourhomegrown plants, you may get benefits that can enhance your health.
These benefits may be gained from greens containing nutrients necessary to keep you healthy.
Dont worry, because were here to help.
Below are the ideal plants to grow if you love cooking at home.
Cabbages
Cabbages arecruciferous plantsthat can grow best in the cold season.
They have leaves wrapped around the thick stem in their center.
They are one of the most common vegetables used in cooking.
When raw, you could put and eat them in salads and coleslaws.
They require full sun for at least six to eight hours a day.
Their soils should also be moist enough.
When watering, which should be done weekly, the water should reach one to two inches.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are gourd plants with rough and trailing stems.
They can be eaten raw, mixed with salads, used in dressings, or made as juice.
They may need ample growing space when planting them, but they can also grow in small areas.
They like high temperatures because thats when they can mature best.
Theyre also not tolerant of frosts.
Their preferred soils are loose and well-drained.
Its also essential to supply them with mulch and compost matter to ensure plant nutrient absorption.
Garlic
Garlic grows in bulb form that can have 10 to 12 cloves.
After removing their inedible paper skins, the cloves can be cut and cooked in various ways.
They are mainly minced to make food flavorings, while roasted ones can be used as spreads or condiments.
you might also bake, sautee, and braise them.
These vegetables prefer six to eight hours of direct sunlight.
They usually thrive best in well-drained and consistently moist soils.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a common ingredient found in salads and many cooked dishes.
Unlike store-bought tomatoes, homegrown ones can bring ripe, sweet, and juicy flavors to your food.
They like warm temperatures and adequate sunlight.
Watering them once every three days, and less when green tomatoes start to form, is also ideal.
Squashes
Squashes have two main types, summer and winter.
Summer squashes have tender, moist, and soft skin.
Meanwhile, winter squashes are firm, which makes them ideal for winter.
Both squash types can thrive in rich and well-drained soils.
They also need full sun to grow.
Bell peppers
Bell peppers are part of the genus Capsicumfamily.
These vegetables should be watered weekly, with water reaching one to two inches.
They also like the full sun to thrive.
Watering them twice a day might be necessary if you plant them in an intensely hot area.
A balance between loamy and sandy soils can also ensure their healthy growth.
Carrots
Carrots are edible root vegetables with many color varieties.
These colors include orange, red, purple, white, and yellow.
They are low maintenance, which means they can tolerate various temperatures.
When planting, they should be given adequate growing space.
You should water them weekly and ensure they reach one to two inches.
These vegetables like loose and sandy soils.
Help Your Vegetable Garden Thrive
Your love for cooking is made easy, thanks to vegetable gardening.
Like other plants, these greens also need proper care to thrive steadily.
They cant flourish independently, so you must constantly check their health.
This includes their root systems, soils, and potential pest and disease infections.
When you religiously do your vegetable garden care, you could prevent rotting.
Additionally, you could grow your garden big enough to supply you with food necessities anytime.