Having a vegetable garden requires tactical planning and if you’re basically a working person then you need to also spend time to maintain it. However it is not as difficult as it seems to be. Growing vegetables and fruits in your garden can be a great joy and accomplishment but it can only be achieved with appropriate planning and garden maintenance. Once you have established the vegetable garden, the next essential step is maintaining it. For most people gardening is a passion and they love to see their garden grow in an appropriate way.

A thriving vegetable garden can be created only if the growing conditions are precisely maintained for the complete growing season. Optimism and creativity are mandatory for maintaining your garden. There are a number of factors that need to be taken into account for maintaining your garden. Always try to ensure that the young plants are regularly watered so that your garden can provide you a bountiful harvest.

Moreover gardens also need to be guarded based on the erratic climatic conditions and from recurring pest problems. The most essential elements that are required for the development of a garden are water, sunlight and nutrients. It is definitely a pleasure to walk into your own garden where you grow mushrooms, tomatoes, cucumber and lemons; however the most important job of a gardener is to make sure that the basic health and vitality of the plants are retained to make them produce more. If you start abandoning your garden it can definitely lead to lower yields because of the pest problems or weeds which can rob the essential resources that plants need to grow.

The more time and effort you incorporate in your vegetable garden, the better the end result that can be expected. If you are a working person, make sure to at least spend a little time in your garden on a regular basis to get huge returns from the fruits of your labour. Remember that more time spent on maintaining your plants will help turn vegetable garden into a high yielding and delectable one.

Here are some useful tips on how to maintain a vegetable garden for hectic working people.

Water your vegetable garden consistently
Regular watering should not be taken as a chore. Water your vegetable garden with several different techniques like creating simple furrows and basins. Watering with a hose is also the best technique for individual or large plants. Try to regularly water the vegetable bed and also sustain even soil moisture so that plants don’t dry off. If the soil is dry about 3 to 4 cm down, then it needs watering. Watering erratically can lessen the required yields in most vegetables that it will start to taste bitter, especially vegetables like cucumber and lettuce. Even soluble fertilizers will be oozed out from the soil.

High temperatures and sun can lead to evaporation of water, so the ideal time to water the plant is when the air is still, either do it in the early morning or late evenings.

Fertilise frequently
For strong growth, the vegetable garden should be noshed with nitrogen fertilizer at least every 6 weeks. However never try to overstuff the plants with fertilizers as they could reduce the vegetable produce.

Mulches
Make sure to keep the vegetable beds mulched by applying 3 inches of organic matter applied over the roots of your vegetable plants to keep the soil cool. Mulch has the tendency to seal the soil moisture and they also try to stifle weed growth. There are many types of mulch available. Mulched gardens make the garden healthier and drought resistant than unmulched gardens. Organic mulch like straw or composted leaves helps to prevent gusty winds to other areas of your yard. Organic mulch picks up the soil texture and keeps the soil underneath it cool hence it is best not to use them until warm weather.

Suppress weeds
Even though your garden is mulched, still weeds would always grow. Sometime mulching can help however some weeds need to be potted and then removed with hand. A passionate gardener needs to be on his toes routinely to check the plants’ progress and to remove some weeds from growing. Weeds try to deprive the vegetables of water, nutrients and sunlight, thus this could eventually reduce the yields.

Control insect pests
Keep a complete eye on the insects and try to shield your plants by applying a solution that can be used on vegetables. Even the smallest pests can do damage to your vegetable garden. To keep away from creeping pests lik snails and caterpillars try to spread egg shells completely underneath the targeted plants since this would make them difficult to move along.

Harvest regularly
Some vegetable plants like peppers, green beans, tomatoes and cucumber will not produce if they are not harvested on a regular basis. If you don’t like to eat them frequently then try to share with friends or neighbours. Always make sure to keep a basket to pick up vegetables that have been ripened. It is better to take them away when they are ripe so as to help the plant produce more.

If you are looking for a perfect garden try to spend an hour everyday from your busy schedule to make your vegetable garden have a bountiful harvest. Follow these simple procedures to make your vegetable gardening venture successful and productive