VEGETABLE GARDEN: TIPS FOR GOOD YIELD

The secret to super productive gardening is taking the time now to plan the strategies that are planned according to your garden. Here are some high-yield strategies gleaned from gardeners who have learned to make the most of their garden space.

Expert gardeners agree that building up the soil is the single most important factor in hiking the yields. A deep, rich soil encourages the growth of healthy, extensive roots that are able to reach more nutrients and water. The result: extra-lush, extra-productive growth above ground.

The fastest way to get a deep layer of fertile soil is to make raised beds. Raised beds yield up to four times more than the same amount of space planted in rows. Plants grow close enough together to shade out competing weeds so you spend less time weeding. The close spacing also makes watering and harvesting more efficient.

·        Interplanting compatible crops saves space, too. Consider corn, beans, and squash. Sturdy cornstalks support the pole beans, while squash grows freely on the ground below, shading out competing weeds. This combination works because the crops are compatible. Other compatible combinations include tomatoes, basil, and onions; leaf lettuce and peas or brassicas; carrots, onions, and radishes; and beets and celery. 

   

   Plant cherry or grape or tomatoes, and you'll get lots of tomatoes in compact clusters. They'll do well in the ground or in containers, so plant them in any accessible sunny spot.

·       It only takes about 45 days for radishes to reach harvest size, so that's another spot in your garden that you can replant.

·          In addition to growing what you eat, try growing tasty beverages also. 

·        Aim to harvest in the morning, which is when plants are filled with nutrients and moisture. 

·        Saving at least some of your own seeds will definitely mean spending less money on your garden each year, plus you’ll enjoy the convenience of always having a ready supply of plantable seeds. 

·        You need to buy high-quality organic compost, but make a habit of piling together pulled plants, leaves, tattered mulches and other organic materials to create rich compost for free.

    Growing types that store for a long time, such as butternut squash and shallots, will allow you to eat fresh food from your own garden all winter.