Edible Gardens – How Can I Grow One Next to My Garden Summer House?

14.08.2019

Garden Summer House

There’s much to be said about edible gardens. But the most important thing is the opportunity they give us of growing our own vegetables right in our backyards, next to the garden summer house! As the younger generations are becoming more and more aware of the carbon footprint we are leaving on the environment, edible gardens are not just a trend or a fad anymore, but a real option for everyone who wants fresh produce without harming nature.

But is it difficult to plant, grow, and sustain an edible garden? As it turns out, it’s a lot easier than you might think! Whether you own acres and acres somewhere in the countryside or a small patch of a courtyard in the city, growing an edible garden is easy once you read the tips we’ve prepared for you!

Always Start Small!

We know, it’s super tempting to go big and plant as many vegetables and herbs as possible so that you can make stews and salads galore! But that would be a mistake! Edible gardens, as delightful as they sound, are actually quite a handful when it comes to tending them.

Therefore, start small, see how you fare, and expand as you go! Don’t forget that some crops, such as watermelons, corn, and pumpkins need a lot of space when they grow. Therefore, they might take up your entire edible garden!

Choose the Perfect Location for You Edible Garden

Of course, there is no such thing as one location fits all. But there is such a thing as the perfect location for you! For example, if you plan on planting a lot of herbs to use when cooking, then the perfect spot would be next to the kitchen window. In this way, you can harvest them easily enough while the food is simmering on the stove.

However, if your summer kitchen is located in your garden summer house, then it makes a lot more sense to plant your vegetables around this annex. Remember that all this needs to be planned out before you start planting anything!

Sun, Sun, Sun!  And a Little Shade!

This essentially means thinking beforehand about what you are going to plant in your edible garden. The reason is that different vegetables and herbs require different locations as far as sunlight is concerned. Let’s look at some examples for a better understanding!

All plants and herbs that will produce fruits which are edible, such as tomatoes, blueberries, basil or peppers need as much time in the sunlight as possible. It makes sense. The fruits need to ripen! Therefore, make sure to plant them in the middle of your edible garden. In this way, they will be exposed a long time to direct sunlight.

However, vegetables that only have edible leaves, such as spinach, lettuce, chard, and all sorts of leafy greens, thrive in partial shade and less sunlight. Therefore, you can plant them in the shade of your garden summer house, for example. 

A Matter of Soil

As you might have already expected, the soil in your edible garden will be crucial for your crops. The first thing you need to do is determine what type of soil you’re working with. You can test it yourself. Just take a little between your fingers and press it. If it’s slimy or even sticky, then you have a clay-based soil. If it’s dry and gritty, it’s a sandy soil.

A more professional way of doing it would be to have it tested. It this way you can also find out what the pH of the soil is as well as if it has any contaminants or not.

Once the process is over, you can start working it. About three weeks before planting, clear out all weeds and grass and turn the soil over using a plain, old shovel. Add as much organic compost as you can because this is what will make your vegetables and greens thrive.

Here’s a tip – if you live in the city and want to keep everything as close to the house or your garden summer house as possible, than plant everything directly into containers. It’s a lot less messy, and you can move them around as you please!

Which Veggies should You Choose?

Yes, of course, we’re all fans of the avocado here, but is it really easy to grow? Lemons? Olives? Perhaps not. So what does this tell you? That the first thing to think about is what your climate and soil will allow you to grow!

You might love to have an olive tree next to your garden summer house and sit on its veranda picking olives. But the truth is they require an incredibly dry soil and very high temperatures that can only be found in the Mediterranean region.

A good idea would be to go for tomatoes, peppers, and a few leafy greens that are easy to tend to, especially if you’re a beginner. Still, we don’t want things to get boring. Therefore, a good advice would be to plant heirloom types that will produce sweet, delicious tomatoes the kind which you cannot usually find in the supermarket.

Some other options you can easily go for are as follows.

  • Artichokes – beautiful to grow and you can be sure no animals will get to them as they grow high above the ground.
  • Beans – predators usually love the leaves more than the pods themselves.
  • Eggplants – incredibly beautiful in the garden, both the vegetables and the purple flowers they produce will looking amazing next to your garden summer house.
  • Onions, chives, and garlic – absolutely no animals or bugs go for onions or garlic for that matter!

Are you ready to start your own edible garden this summer? Will you plant it next to your kitchen or next to your garden summer house? Let us know in the comment section below what veggies you dream of having in your garden!