DIY: Grow your own vegetable garden with our guide

Nothing looks more beautiful than having a lush, growing vegetable garden right in your backyard. You don’t have to be a gardening expert to do it. Whether you’re a gardening newbie or just new to planting vegetables, we have your ultimate guide on how to grow your own vegetable garden so you have a full supply of fresh, colourful food all summer long!

What’s the best thing about building a vegetable garden? It’s actually not that hard! Even the most fearful DIYer can manage this, especially those new to the gardening world. Here’s what you need to know (and do!) to grow the perfect vegetables for those summer salads.

Side note: If you’re really not comfortable gardening – or don’t know where to start – we have a whole list of gardening experts who can show you how its done and even prep your property for it!

Feed the soil

Soil is the single most important aspect to any garden, whether it’s for vegetable or plant-growing. It too needs proper nutrients and care in order for your garden to flourish. The most common products on the market to use are synthetic fertilizers, but that’s not your only opinion. In fact, the healthiest option for your garden is to use organic matter:

Compost;
Shredded leaves;
Animal manures.

These forms of fertilizer improve the fertility and structure of the soil you’re about to use to garden. They provide a steady stream of healthy nutrients that your plants will need to grow.

More related to this story: Carson Arthur is our go-to source for everything garden & green. He shared with us the specific details on choosing the right growth for your garden and breaks down the types of manures you should consider using and why.

Space and Location are Essential

Before you begin building a place for your vegetable garden, it needs the following:

Sunlight;
Proximity to water;
Protection from frost and wind.

These three factors will influence the location of your new vegetable garden. One of our gardening professionals can advise you on the right location!

As for building that garden, the best way to maintain the plants that will grow those beautiful vegetables is to build a raised bed. They’re easier to manage as opposed to having single rows of crops. This structure maximizes square footage and is the perfect route for new gardeners and for those who aren’t looking to spend all of their free time picking and primping.

Here are other reasons why you need to consider a raised bed:

Less work: When plants are planted strategically in a raised bed, they require less watering, weeding and mulching. Less work for you, but plenty of benefits to reap once some of the labour is complete.

Less soil compaction: A vegetable garden not sent in a raised bed would require a gardener to compact the soil by walking all over it. Instead, increase the width of the growing bed and reduce the number of paths to prevent the soil from constantly being trammeled over.

Now that we know why raised beds are essential for a vegetable garden, how do you build one? This video tells you exactly what you need and walks you through the process:

Growth Direction

You want your plants to grow vertically, not horizontally. But your plants don’t know that! To give your veggie plants a little bit of help, use a trellis. This handy tool that resembles a wire fence enables you to grow plants on a vertical support system, which maximizes space in your garden. Not only that, but since your plants won’t grow horizontally all over the place, there will be less work for you to do.

This video will give you a great visual on what a trellis is and how to you use it your benefit:

Garden a little bit at a time

Gardening should be a relaxing and enjoyable past time, which is why you shouldn’t do it all at once. Take your time enjoying the sunshine and beautiful weather by planting vegetable seeds a few at a time throughout the course of the growing season.

Maximize the short burst of summer weather – and break up the labour – by diving the gardening overtime. Plant seeds on a weekly basis, beginning with peas now and tomatoes, peppers and eggplants once the warm weather is settled and here for good.

Mark your gardening success!

As you work on perfecting your vegetable garden this summer, play close attention to it and keep detailed notes.

Write down what worked and what didn’t;
Write down any challenges you encountered so you can adjust your approach next year.

Remember, practice makes perfect! But that doesn’t mean we can’t get a little help from our friends. Watch Frankie Flowers share his tips and advice. Incorporate them in your gardening journal.

Now that you’re armed with the right tools and knowledge, get outside and build a beautiful outdoor vegetable garden! Don’t forget to host backyard barbecues and show it off to your neighbours.

If you need some help, why not take a look at our directory of gardening experts? Read customer reviews and peruse through their image galleries. Get inspired!

Happy gardening everyone!