Many old-fashioned traditions have recently come back into vogue, including the kitchen garden. Once a staple of homesteads, edible landscaping is now a popular trend that people are embracing. But there’s more to a good kitchen garden than meets the eye. Here’s how to create the perfect kitchen garden:
Start Small
One of the most important things to do when creating a kitchen garden is to start small, especially if it’s your first time. Between planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, and preserving, kitchen gardens can quickly become a lot of work … and if you start the project on a large scale, you may find that you’ve taken on more than you bargained for. You may want to start with some garden furniture, to add some character to the garden space. Give yourself a small plot of land to start with and stick with just a handful of vegetables and herbs. You can always enlarge your garden over time.
Plant What You Like
Kitchen gardens should be just as personal as the kitchens they serve. The purpose of a kitchen garden is to supply your home with fresh produce, so you need to be willing to eat it come harvest time. Stick with vegetables and herbs that you know you like before branching into more adventurous territory.
Seeds or Seedlings?
Once you’ve decided what you want to grow, you need to consider whether you want to grow your garden from seed or from transplanted seedlings. Seeds require a longer growing season than transplants, but it’s more cost effective to purchase a packet of seeds than a flat of seedlings. Consider with is more important and go from there.
Don’t Forget the Flowers
One of the most important elements of a kitchen garden that people often overlook is flowers. Not only do these add an important aesthetic element to your plot, but they also attract good insects that will help keep your veggies healthy. And if you choose the right flowers, they may even help ward off bad insects, too.
Want to start your very own kitchen garden, but not sure where to start? ABC Scapes can help. Give us a call at 602-404-0568 to start planning.