Vegetables ; a name associated with our healthy diet. It is a good source of vitamins and minerals and keeps us healthy lifelong. Vegetable farming at home reduces our household organic waste and also helps in lowering our expenditure in vegetable purchasing. Farming keeps us mentaly and physically fit and it's a best utilization of our barren garden lands. This article discussed vegetable farming at home and its benefits. A good well drained soil is necessary for vegetable farming. Go for soil testing before farming which gives us a generalised idea about the soil physical characteristics. Check for a good source of water availability and it should be pollution free which gives us healthy produce. Sunlight- Vegetables mostly require 5-6 hours of direct sunlight. South and west-facing balconies at home get more sunlight, followed by east facing. For growing leafy greens, north-facing balconies are best to get sunlight only during the summer months. Fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes and eggplants can be planted in the south or west-facing balconies. Selection of healthy seedling is necessary for a good crop. which prohibits disease pest attack and also gives better yield. Seedlings selected should have a strong and straight stem and profuse root system. It should have dark green leaves. It should be free from pests and diseases. It should be of uniform height and similar age. Sowing vegetables means directly putting the seeds into the prepared soil. Planting means putting grown seedlings into main pot/field Sowing is practised for root crop vegetables like Radishes, Carrots, Turnips etc. Planting method is appropriate for slow growing perennials, annual vegetable plants where the soil is too cold or moist for direct sowing. Fertilizers are mainly classified as organic and inorganic Manures, composts, kitchen wastes are good sources of organic fertilizers. Different inorganic fertilizers are also available in markets with high nutrient quality for vegetable farming at home like water soluble fertilizers, micronutrient fertilizers etc. Aquarium Water Water your vegetable plants with the aquarium water, when cleaning them. The fish wastewater results as great fertilizer for vegetables. Cooking Water Different nutrients are released to water during the cooking process in the kitchen like water that is used to boil potatoes, eggs, and some vegetables, which can be used as a fertilizer for plants. The water should be cool before applying it to the soil. Tree leaves Leaves are a rich source of nutrients, they help to plant growth, and also they will help make heavy soils lighter. You can use them as mixing into your soil. Kitchen Scraps Use kitchen and garden waste to make your compost. Compost releases nutrients slowly, and also maintains soil physical properties and makes the soil cool during hot days. The most common pests in vegetable crops are aphids, jassids, mealy bugs, mites, caterpillars, worms, grasshoppers, locusts, thrips, weevils, whiteflies etc. Most pests in garden vegetable plants can be controlled by using Neem oil spray. This spray has to be applied weekly on the plants. Keep your garden free from weeds and other pests. Remove or make chemical or organic treatment of vegetable plants that show signs of disease or insect damage. Damping-of, root rot, leaf spots, powdery mildew, downy mildew, virus diseases (Mosaic and leaf curl) are some common diseases in vegetable plants. Some important tips for minimizing vegetable pest attack are keeping the garden area clean, properly watering and fertilizing plants, rotating crops, and using disease-free seeds/seedlings. Vegetable gardening in pots is an easy way to grow vegetables at home. If you have a small garden or simply a patio, balcony, or rooftop, gardening in pots is a suitable method. The advantage of vegetable farming in pots can allow us to farm any vegetables round the year. For growing vegetables, different pots are available in the market, but plastic pots retain moisture better and won’t dry out like clay pots.. To get the best result, insert a plastic pot into a larger clay pot. Advantages vegetable gardens at balcony are; Enhancement in household food security. Recycling of organic home waste. Reduction of urban pollution and also give economic benefits to us. Use a good source of soil like synthetic soils. They are made of wood chips, peat moss, sawdust, vermiculite, perlite, or other types of synthetic planting media. Give proper fertilization like spraying water soluble fertilizers and timely watering. Growing a vegetable garden on a balcony is not difficult and requires little care. You may provide green shade nets for plants for temperature and humidity management. Harvesting Harvest is the most satisfying time in vegetable farming. Pick Your vegetable crops as soon as they reach a good size and colour. Use different gardening tools like pruners, scissors, or a knife for harvesting purposes. Early morning is the best time for harvesting vegetables. Overnight, vegetable plants retain moisture that they lost during the day, and also starches formed during the day can be converted to sugars during the evening, which make morning-harvested produce juicier, and sweeter. Conclusion Here this article may give some information regarding vegetable gardening at home. Please share your valuable comments here. Thank you.
Farming Procedures
Selection of site for Vegetable Farming at Home
Seedling selection
Sowing and Planting
Fertilizers
Homemade fertilizers for farming
Disease pests Control in Vegetable Farming at Home
Vegetable Farming at Home in Pots
Vegetable Farming at Home in Balcony
Tips for balcony farming
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