There Are Many Factors to Consider in Construction of a New Vegetable Garden
Now that the growing season has essentially come to an end, roadside stands have little left to offer other than perhaps the last of their pumpkins. Gone are the days, at least until next year, when families could stop and buy fresh, home-grown vegetables on their way home from work or a trip to the mall.
Of course, fruits and vegetables are still available for purchase in Toronto-area grocery stores, albeit there seems to be something lacking when these foods are either imported or grown in hothouse environments. The one aspect that is not lacking, in a manner of speaking, is the price that Torontonians are asked to pay during the winter months for the privilege of something that is fresh rather than frozen.
Whether vegetables are purchased from a roadside market or a supermarket, the cost-saving factor alone would be ample reason for homeowners to plant their first and very own vegetable garden. But there are other good reasons to tackle such an undertaking too, including:
- Encouraging family members to eat more healthy foods
- Providing a venue/opportunity for fresh air and exercise
- Teaching children about nature and plant growing cycles
- Generating equity from the property (by saving money)
- Providing a measure of accomplishment and satisfaction
But why talk about planting a vegetable garden at this time of the year? Because now is a great time to initiate the planning process for next spring. This garden construction blueprint, in a sense, should be drawn to scale and focus on these details/specifications:
- Size and shape of the garden design
- Location within the overall landscaping
- Orientation in relation to direct sunlight
- What to plant to generate the best returns
- Soil preparation – natural additives/nutrients
- Time/effort to be dedicated to care/maintenance
- Harvest times and potential for canning/preserves
- Any tools and/or accessories that may be required
- Measures to thwart disease, insects, rodents, mammals
Further insight on how to design and plan a vegetable garden can be found by visiting Better Homes and Gardens.
On the subject of specific crops/vegetables to plant within one’s overall garden design, it is highly recommended that choices favour those that:
- Are rather easy to grow
- Are much more expensive to buy
- Do not require much growing space
- May return more than one yield per year
With these criteria in mind, the list of vegetables that could be grown might consist of:
- Beans
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Cucumbers
- Garlic
- Onions
- Peppers
- Lettuce
- Radishes
- Squash
- Swiss Chard
- Tomatoes
With the winter season fast approaching, there will be ample time for homeowners and their families to research and design their first vegetable garden next spring, deciding upon, among other factors, what they want to plant and how the care and maintenance responsibilities will be distributed.
For those who feel they might benefit from professional guidance, particularly in relation to garden construction, soil preparation, and integration of the garden within the overall landscape design of the property, such advice and support are available from the experts at Landcare, a leader in providing quality landscaping services to property owners in Toronto and the GTA for more than 20 years.
Expertise in All Facets of Garden Construction and Landscape Design
New garden construction, including the preparation and planting of a vegetable garden for the first time, can be a more intricate and elaborate process than one might imagine. This is especially true when attempting this work in the heavy clay soils of Toronto. As a result, homeowners committed to adding a vegetable garden to their overall landscape design might choose to contract the entire project to a professional landscaping service like Landcare.
The all-encompassing expertise of the Landcare team will be evident in such aspects as:
- Site assessment
- Conceptualization
- Developing the plan
- Physical construction
- Proper soil preparation
- Adding special features
For more information on the garden construction and garden landscape design services offered by Landcare, go to our Graden planting service page.
If you are looking to design and build a new vegetable garden or rearrange your current landscape design to accommodate vegetable planting next spring, call the specialists from Landcare today at 647-557-7307 or contact us to get the planning and design processes started as soon as possible.