Grow A Vegetable Garden

Even gardeners with the greenest thumbs sometimes have difficulty with vegetable gardens.

Novice gardeners who want to experiment with self-sufficiency by growing a small vegetable plot can find the task daunting.

Beginners quickly learn to appreciate the effort that more experienced counterparts put into raising greens for the local farmers’ market!

Would-be vegetable gardeners should realize that not all vegetables are the same. Just as individual flowers prefer soil with secure water retention or drainage characteristics, each type of vegetable has specific soil preferences. Some ornamental plants prefer full or partial sun, and vegetables have similar choices.

Particular fertilizers may improve a plant’s leaf growth or bloom production, and vegetables exhibit those same responses to different fertilizer mixes. Vegetable crops need to be planted at certain times to produce a good harvest in the same way that flowering bulbs must be planted in the fall to produce a floral show in the spring.

The first step to growing vegetables is to know the plants’ light requirements. Most vegetable plants require eight to 10 hours of full sun per day, but some will do nicely with much less. Lettuces, arugula, spinach, mesclun, and most Asian greens will grow well in as little as two hours of sunlight per day. Low light levels may produce smaller leaves, but leafy vegetables are tender when small.

Peas and beans require four to five hours of sun per day. They will grow with less light, but the growth is slower. Root vegetables also require four to five hours of sunlight, but they make do with less and produce more slowly. That may be acceptable for the casual gardener since large quantities of crops are not needed for sale or survival. Small potatoes and carrots are also the preferred harvests in some cases.

The second step to growing vegetables is to know which type of soil is required. This step is slightly less critical than the sunlight requirement because you can amend the soil to meet the plants’ needs. All vegetables will do well in loose, well-drained soil.

Clay contains nutrients, but it drains too poorly for a healthy garden. Sand is deficient in nutrients and drains too rapidly for healthy plant growth. Loam is ideal for growing a vegetable garden because it retains moisture and nutrients long enough for its roots to absorb.

Naturally occurring organic materials in the soil provide the nutrients vegetables need to thrive. Still, these nutrients can be supplemented or even offered in whole through the addition of the proper fertilizer. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are the three primary nutrients required by plants.

Commercially available fertilizers list these elements as the N-P-K numbers on the containers. Local agricultural extension service offices will usually test a soil sample for a small fee, and the test results will indicate if amendments are needed. Soil amendments do not have to come from a bag. Wood ash is high in potassium, manure is high in nitrogen, and bone meal increases the phosphorus content of the soil.

Water is the third critical factor in growing a vegetable garden; Some plants require more water than others. For example, juicy vegetables like tomatoes and corn have high water needs.

Vegetables such as hot peppers require very little water and produce spicier peppers when less water is supplied. Gardeners must keep watch over the developing plants and provide water when natural rainfall is inadequate.

By keeping the specific type of vegetable in mind and planting appropriate varieties, casual gardeners can harvest vegetables from small plots of land or even from porch container gardens. The key to growing a productive vegetable garden is keeping the specific needs of each type of vegetable in mind when planning and planting.

Source of Information on Beginning a Vegetable Garden

Best Sellers

Daylily Rainbow Collection

Daylily Rainbow Collection

This rainbow daylily collection offers an assortment of our best-selling daylilies. You will get a mixed collection of different colors. They will all be in one bag and not labeled. These are miz planted in the nursery and dug as an assortment. They are mature and blooming bulbs, and you'll love them!  Daylilies (Hemerocallis) are long Blooming Summer Perennial Favorites Experience a vibrant garden with our Daylily Rainbow Collection. These plants offer a variety of pleasing attributes, from their easy-to-grow nature to their stunning array of colors. With a selection of different sizes and bloom times, this collection will bring beauty to your garden year-round. Daylilies are drought and disease-resistant Introduce the vibrant Daylily Rainbow Collection, boasting drought and disease-resistant qualities. With these versatile flowers, you can easily add a splash of color to your garden without worrying about maintenance. Perfect for busy gardeners or those with less time to devote to upkeep. Anastasia White Daylily Introducing the Daylily Rainbow Collection, featuring the beautiful Anastasia White Daylily. With its stunning white blooms, this daylily adds a touch of elegance to any garden. Blooming in the summer months will brighten up your landscape and attract pollinators, making it a must-have for garden enthusiasts. Conca D'Or Lemon Yellow Daylily The Daylily Rainbow Collection features the Conca D'Or Lemon Yellow Daylily, known for its vibrant and long-lasting blooms. With a bright, lemon-yellow color and a strong, sturdy stem, this daylily is a beautiful addition to any garden. Enjoy a burst of color and life in your outdoor space with this stunning variety. Purple Prince Daylily The Daylily Rainbow Collection features the vibrant Purple Prince Daylily, known for its stunning purple blooms. With its hardy nature and long blooming season, this daylily will add a pop of color to any garden. It is a must-have for flower enthusiasts and experts alike. Dutch Orange Daylily This Dutch orange daylily showcases the beauty and versatility of Dutch Daylilies. These daylilies are perfect for any garden, as they have an excellent array of vibrant colors and a long blooming season. Each plant has a unique, ruffled bloom that adds surreal and elegant beauty to any landscape. Experience the joy of a rainbow of colors with the Daylily Rainbow Collection.  

Elderberry Bush - TN Nursery

Elderberry

The Elderberry bush is a medium-sized shrub with opposite compound leaves and clusters of tiny, creamy-white or pale pink flowers, followed by dark purple-black berries arranged in umbrella-like clusters. It is a versatile and beneficial plant used in landscaping. This deciduous shrub offers many advantages with its attractive foliage, beautiful blooms, and fruits. Elderberry Bush (Sambucus) Can Look Like A Shrub Or A Tree Deciduous elderberry shrubs can range in size from little trees to shrubs with several trunks. One type has tiny white blooms with five lobes, five stamens, and a tri-style ovary. Another type is yellowish-white and has five flattened petals. They thrive in partially shaded, damp places like meadows, marshes, forest borders, ditches, thickets, and floodplains. Typically, the most fertile canes have developed lateral branches by the second year. After the fourth year of growth, you can trim off the older canes since they become much less productive. Increase Pollination With Elderberry Bush Elderberry Bushes are great pollinator magnets due to the abundance of nectar in their vast, flat, shallow blossoms. Moths, beetles, flies, butterflies, and beetles are some pollinating insects that visit these blooms. They continuously provide nectar and pollen for bees throughout the growing season. When planted in clusters around an orchard, they will attract more pollinators. Even though they produce fruit on their own, they often experience an increase in yield when cross-pollination occurs. Elderberry Flowers Have A Mild Sweet Smell In The Spring Because of their thick growth and ability to produce new branches yearly from the base, they are excellent for screening off unwanted views. Furthermore, they can aggregate into thick masses, which makes them perfect for creating natural landscapes. Their dense foliage can also provide wind protection. Planting them along driveways or fence rows is an excellent way to enjoy their seclusion. Add Wildlife Nutrition With TN Nursery Plant Elderberry Bush Elderberry Bush provides unparalleled natural habitats and food sources. Their aromatic blossoms encourage pollinators like bees and butterflies to visit the garden, which is good for biodiversity. They are essential to a healthy ecosystem since they provide a source for birds and small animals like moose, foxes, bears, mice, and deer.

Northern Spice Bush

Northern Spice Bush

Northern Spice Bush is a deciduous shrub with aromatic green leaves, clusters of small yellow flowers, and red berries. It often attracts wildlife and provides a splash of color in woodland areas. It brings many benefits when thoughtfully integrated into landscaping designs, making it a valuable and ecologically significant addition to outdoor spaces. The Northern Spice Bush is popular with gardeners and landscapers because of its pleasant scent. It's often referred to as the spicebush or wild allspice. Its botanical name is Lindera Benzoin, and it's part of the Laural or Lauraceae family, which includes the bay laurel, California laurel, cassia, and avocado plants. It's native to eastern North America and can be found in Maine and New York. However, it can also be seen as far south as Florida and southwest into Texas and Arkansas. The Looks of Northern Spice Bush (Lindera benzoin) Gardeners revere it for its aromatic leaves and flowers, which have a distinct scent when crushed. This deciduous shrub typically grows up to 15 feet tall and wide but can sometimes reach 20 feet. Gardeners can expect it to develop flowers from March through May and produce red berries from late summer through October. The leaves are green in the summer and change color in the fall. The leaves typically reach lengths of between two and six inches. Attracting Wildlife with Northern Spice Bush Gardeners looking to spice up their wildlife viewing opportunities will love planting them. This shrub attracts all birds, bees, and small mammals. The bees are attracted to the flowers, and birds, especially the very wood thrush, are drawn to its berries. This shrub also attracts squirrels and butterflies. Best Spots to Plant Northern Spice Bush in Your Yard Northern Spice Bush can grow up to 15 feet high and wide; it's best to plant it in open areas. It looks best as the focal point of a shade or rain garden or along the perimeter of front and backyards. The shrub can be planted next to several perennials, including grape hyacinth and monkshood. Gardeners can plant blue spruce and deep green hemlock next to Lindera Benzoin, and the shrub does well around dogwood and red vein dianthus. The shrub is an excellent plant for most gardens. It thrives next to other trees and shrubs and makes a statement with its signature scent. What is special about the Northern Spicebush? Spicebush is cultivated for its yellow flowers that bloom early in the spring when most garden plants are still dormant. A plant with red berries and yellow foliage can be used year-round in a garden.  Is the Spicebush for a small garden Absolutely! This shrub generally can reach 6 to 12 feet in height and width, so it's perfect for small gardens. It does not require much pruning, which is great for the time-poor.  Is there wildlife attracted to the Northern Spicebush Yes, it does. Birds love it because of the red berries. It is also a plant taken up by butterflies, particularly the Spicebush Swallowtail, who feed on its larvae. It is ideal for any gardener or wildlife lover looking to establish a pollinator or wild place.  What are the ideal growing conditions for this plant?  It is home on moist, well-drained soils and will grow in full sun and partial shade. It's hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9.  How easy is it to maintain a Northern Spicebush It is very easy to grow and doesn't require water in the dry season. It also doesn't harbor too many insects or pests, which is great for the beginner gardener.

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