With increasing industrialization and agriculture demands of the urban areas of a country like Pakistan, it is important that people start growing their own food. Moreover, there is an increasing reduction in land for farming as a lot of land has turned infertile due to incorrect agricultural practices. Hence, one way to support our local farmers and economy is to start growing food in our lawns, homes, or kitchens, as the title of this article suggests. Kitchen gardening has expanded from fruits and vegetables to other grains as well. But majorly, kitchen gardening can be used to grow vegetables.
The first step – Choosing your vegetables
- The first step of this process will be to choose what you want to grow. Before one can decide what they want to grow, it is important to consider the season and what kind of crop goes best in this season.
List of summer vegetables
Tomato, Hot Pepper, Sweet pepper, Brinjal, Cucumber, Okra, Bottle Gourd, Sponge Gourd, Bitter Gourd, Tinda Gourd, Pumpkin, Arum, Potato, Mint, Turmeric, Ginger, Musk Melon, Watermelon, Sweet Potato, and Groundnut.
List of winter vegetables
Cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Carrot, Potato, Onion, Lettuce leaf, Radish, Turnip, Peas, Spinach, Fenugreek, Beets, Mustard, Coriander, Mint, and Garlic
- Once you have decided your vegetables according to the relevant season, it is important to know that wherever you plan to garden, there should be at least seven to eight hours of direct sunlight available.
- It is also important to know that different kinds of vegetables should not be gown together.
- Moreover, the vegetables that require vines should be separated from vegetables that do not need it.
- The vines require some support, which can be provided with sticks or walls.
The second step – Preparation of land
- One of the most important steps before sowing any seeds is to prepare your land.
- Your chosen land should have a drainage system.
- It should be in a place where there is fresh air.
- Some organic matter should be added in the soil a few months before you start to sow your seeds for better soil conditions.
- Animal dung can be a good source of organic matter.
- For small areas you can use manual tools.
- For larger areas you should use proper tools like plows.
The third step – Sowing your seeds
- Each plant requires its own method and time period for sowing.
- There is a concept known as plant-to-plant and row-to-row distance, which should be considered before sowing your seeds.
- Moreover, for whatever plant you chose to grow, its method and time period should be studied in detail.
The fourth step – Irrigation of your garden
- The requirements according to your chosen area and your chosen vegetable should be checked beforehand.
- The first irrigation should take place right after your sowing is completed.
- Water level should be adequate and below furrows for proper growth.
- While you can regularly irrigate your plants in the summers, however, it is suggested that in winters you should only irrigate when it is required according to your particular plant’s needs.
The fifth step – Weeding and Disease Control
- It is of utmost importance that you weed your plant manually on a regular basis.
- It will control the growth of weeds that alter the growth of your plants.
- Drainage will be better.
- Plant will receive better supply of oxygen.
- If you have done your weeding right, you will probably not face many pest or disease attacks.
- However, each plant is susceptible to some kind of disease, for which the adequate pesticide should be used on time.
The final step – Harvesting
Congratulations! Your effort has finally brought forth fruit/vegetable. Whenever you feel like your produce is fully grown, you can hand pick it. Eat it raw or use it in your cooking!