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Growing some basic produce in your kitchen gardens is always a good idea; growing microgreens and aromatics in your home garden can save you money and also give you easy access to herbs which you can use in your daily meal. Some fruits and veggies can also be grown in your kitchen garden, especially the ones which are easy to grow and are low-maintenance.
For instance, green beans are easy to grow and produce a bountiful harvest throughout the summer months. It’s best to plant green beans in fertile, well-draining soil and provide support for pole varieties. It will need water consistently, especially during flowering and fruiting stages.
Most food plants require at least 6-8 hours of sunlight per day to thrive, so you should ideally choose a sunny spot for your kitchen garden, especially if you have a few container gardens. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Check the moisture level regularly, especially during hot weather. Pruning encourages bushier growth and better airflow while harvesting regularly prevents plants from becoming overcrowded and encourages continued production.
Herbs
Growing herbs and microgreens in your kitchen garden can prove useful since you can have easy access to quite a few natural aromatics. Herbs add fresh flavour to your dishes, and many are incredibly easy to grow, even for beginners. Basil, parsley, mint, rosemary, thyme, and chives are popular choices for kitchen gardens since they can grow fast. Plant herbs in well-draining soil and place them in a sunny spot. Water them regularly and trim them back to encourage bushier growth.
Tomatoes
Homegrown tomatoes have unbeatable flavour and are versatile in cooking. In fact, they can have more flavour than market varieties if grown well. Cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, and heirloom varieties like Brandywine are great choices. Plant tomatoes in rich, well-draining soil and provide support for them to climb. Water consistently and provide full sun for optimal growth. Prune regularly to promote airflow and prevent diseases.
Salad Greens
Fresh salad greens are nutritious and easy to incorporate into meals. Lettuce, spinach, arugula, kale, and Swiss chard are popular choices. Plant salad greens in containers or directly in the ground, in a location with partial shade to prevent them from bolting in hot weather. Keep the soil consistently moist and harvest leaves as needed for a continuous harvest.
Strawberries
Though they are seasonal, homegrown strawberries are incredibly sweet and flavorful, and they're perfect for snacking, baking, or making preserves. June-bearing strawberries, everbearing strawberries, and alpine strawberries are common choices. Plant strawberries in rich, well-draining soil and provide full sun. Mulch around the plants to suppress weeds and retain moisture. Water consistently, especially during hot weather, and harvest ripe strawberries as soon as they are ready.
Peppers
Growing peppers in your home is a good idea since they can be easily added to daily cooking. Peppers add colour and flavour to a variety of dishes, and many varieties are well-suited to container gardening. Bell peppers, jalapeños, Anaheim peppers, and banana peppers are excellent options. Plant peppers in well-draining soil and provide full sun. Water regularly and fertilize occasionally with a balanced fertilizer. Harvest peppers when they reach the desired size and colour.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are some of the most widely used fruits and can be used in almost everything, from salads to pickles. If you wish to grow cucumbers that you want to use for your meals, plant cucumbers in fertile, well-draining soil and provide support for them to climb or sprawl. Keep the soil consistently moist and harvest cucumbers when they are young and tender for the best flavour.
