Have you ever heard a story of garden production that seemed difficult to believe? Perhaps someone shared with you the yield from their garden and it left you scratching your head in doubt because in comparison to your garden’s yield, the numbers simply didn’t seem attainable. Although it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the numbers someone else might give you, it actually is possible to reach high yields such as those on your own. Here are some suggestions to help you achieve such numbers for yourself.
For starters, all good gardens begin with soil. The health of your soil is vital to the production of your garden as it contains the nutrients from which growth is generated. In order to have the necessary soil health to bump up yields, you want to go deep. The deeper soil is, the more root systems are able to reach and be exposed to nutrients and water. The best way to achieve this is with raised beds. In addition to creating the depth root systems require, they also do not waste soil on pathways. Additionally, if you form an arc with soil, this will allow for more plant space. Raised beds are also less prone to weed growth therefore saving you time you might otherwise spend pulling weeds.
Whether you opt to garden in a standard garden, with raised beds, or even in containers, plant arrangement is important. Though traditional gardening is done in rows, you can achieve more output by planting in a staggered pattern as this will allow more plants to fit into less space. Do use caution and do not to overcrowd as this can inhibit growth and cause stress. It is also important to pay attention to companion planting needs as some plants do not get along as neighbors.
Don’t forget to take advantage of upward space for growing vine vegetables. Even small gardens can experience increased yields through the use of trellises, stakes, or cages. These are best planted at the end of traditional gardens or raised beds. In addition to saving space, upward growth also saves time and back pain as it is easier and quicker to harvest off of a trellis as opposed to down in the dirt. Trellises also make it easier to see the veggies on the vine which aids in determining ripeness as well as helping fight disease due to increased air circulation.
In order to further take advantage of space, succession planting is a way to utilize the same space twice or even more than twice. Once your first round of crops have matured and been harvested, plant something new in the space they occupied and refresh soil in the process. This will enable you to harvest multiple crops in one small area but it is most beneficial to use quick to mature varieties and transplants to get started. Also, be sure not to throw in the towel too soon. Although it may seem like the growing season is drawing to a close, there may be time to squeeze in another succession. In some cases this may require the use of row covers or mulch but it is often possible to yield another succession if you plan ahead.
In some cases, it may surprise you of what your garden is capable. By adapting your strategy, you can make gardening a lot easier on yourself and reap a greater bounty at the same time. Though it may take some investment such as in the case of building raised beds, that will more than pay for itself at the end of the season when you experience your best yield ever and have bragging rights all your own.
For starters, all good gardens begin with soil. The health of your soil is vital to the production of your garden as it contains the nutrients from which growth is generated. In order to have the necessary soil health to bump up yields, you want to go deep. The deeper soil is, the more root systems are able to reach and be exposed to nutrients and water. The best way to achieve this is with raised beds. In addition to creating the depth root systems require, they also do not waste soil on pathways. Additionally, if you form an arc with soil, this will allow for more plant space. Raised beds are also less prone to weed growth therefore saving you time you might otherwise spend pulling weeds.
Whether you opt to garden in a standard garden, with raised beds, or even in containers, plant arrangement is important. Though traditional gardening is done in rows, you can achieve more output by planting in a staggered pattern as this will allow more plants to fit into less space. Do use caution and do not to overcrowd as this can inhibit growth and cause stress. It is also important to pay attention to companion planting needs as some plants do not get along as neighbors.
Don’t forget to take advantage of upward space for growing vine vegetables. Even small gardens can experience increased yields through the use of trellises, stakes, or cages. These are best planted at the end of traditional gardens or raised beds. In addition to saving space, upward growth also saves time and back pain as it is easier and quicker to harvest off of a trellis as opposed to down in the dirt. Trellises also make it easier to see the veggies on the vine which aids in determining ripeness as well as helping fight disease due to increased air circulation.
In order to further take advantage of space, succession planting is a way to utilize the same space twice or even more than twice. Once your first round of crops have matured and been harvested, plant something new in the space they occupied and refresh soil in the process. This will enable you to harvest multiple crops in one small area but it is most beneficial to use quick to mature varieties and transplants to get started. Also, be sure not to throw in the towel too soon. Although it may seem like the growing season is drawing to a close, there may be time to squeeze in another succession. In some cases this may require the use of row covers or mulch but it is often possible to yield another succession if you plan ahead.
In some cases, it may surprise you of what your garden is capable. By adapting your strategy, you can make gardening a lot easier on yourself and reap a greater bounty at the same time. Though it may take some investment such as in the case of building raised beds, that will more than pay for itself at the end of the season when you experience your best yield ever and have bragging rights all your own.
