Gardening

Growing your own food is a great way to be more self-sufficient. Once you get the hang of gardening and growing your own food you may be wondering if there are any simple ways to increase the yield from your garden. Here are some of my best tips for growing more food in your garden. Companion plant to make the most of your space You can maximize every square inch of your garden space when you plan your garden just right by grouping companion plants. The three sisters are a great example of this since natives are known for growing corn, squash, and beans all together in one area. These plants work well together in the garden. Corn serves as a trellis for the beans, while beans nourish the soil, and squash serves as living mulch. You can find many more great combinations to make the most of your garden space. List each plant you wish to grow, then research its companion plants to discover these amazing pairings. My favorite combination in the garden is to pare green beans with tomatoes and basil in a single space. The basil will add flavor to the tomatoes and help protect the green beans from pests while the green beans will reflect the sun back onto the tomatoes and help to improve the nitrogen levels to encourage your tomatoes to grow and produce more. Use square foot gardening can maximize space Taking advantage of your garden space is easy with square foot gardening. Putting more plants into a smaller space allows you to make the most of your garden. Researching what plants will grow well together and how many plants you can fit in a space can be time-consuming, but the payoff of having your plants thrive together is well worth the effort. Squarefoot gardening combined with companion planting can greatly increase your garden's yield. Add plenty of compost Compost is one of the best options available for fertilizer. Compost can be mixed directly into your soil before planting. It can be used as rich fertile soil on its own, and even added in layers throughout the gardening season as a fertilizer. The best part is that you can make your own compost. Grow food in pots Planting food in pots is a practical way to maximize your garden space. Depending on where the sun shines in your yard, you can place them anywhere you have space. Decorative pots can be added to walkways and entertainment areas as well as your patio to grow food and herbs in unconventional spaces. Consider companion planting to hide vegetables and edible herbs that can double as decorative plants and also provide food if you would rather keep your potted plants more elegant-looking. Make use of your vertical space Vertical gardening is a great way to fit more plants into your gardening space. For things like green beans and peas, choose pole varieties that like to grow up on a trellis instead of bush varieties. This can be done by planting on the north side of garden beds while allowing other plants to occupy the same space. These plants will not only grow up taking up a small ground footprint, but they will also reflect heat and sunlight back into your garden bed, helping other plants to flourish. You can grow vining plants in hanging pots by allowing the fines to cascade down. Making use of spaces like your front porch or patio boxes will enable you to grow more in your garden. You can grow things like strawberries that trail in these spaces for a delicate look that produces food for your family. Try upside down gardening You can utilize planters in creative ways if you have spaces where planters can be mounted. A wonderful way to grow plants in hanging pots when they are normally unable to grow in them is to use upside-down planters. If you have a place in the sun to hang, then this is a smart way to make the most of your limited space. The first time I seen this I had a neighbor growing tomatoes hanging down from the side of his house. Decorative flower beds can be used to grow food You can increase the amount of food you can grow by hiding edible plants in garden beds in front of your home. Use fillers such as green or flowering herbs, salad greens, and living mulch to help fill in your garden beds as early in the season as possible. Pumpkins are great for planting in flower beds behind flowers. When the large vines flow out from the beds, they add a decorative touch, but the vegetable can still be easily hidden. You can add a pop of color to your flower bed with fun and colorful pepper varieties. Hiding food in your front yard is a creative way to grow more food at home. More water will increase your yield Several plants, such as tomato plants, will produce a much higher yield if they have enough water. You can increase your tomato plant's yield by using a watering system that allows your tomato roots to get more water. Consider buying a food-grade bucket and leaving a few inches at the top. In the bucket, drill holes to allow the water to drain. Surround the bucket with tomato plants. Fill the bucket with water to give the tomatoes more water. A drip irrigation system can be one of the best tools to help water your garden. You can even set these systems up on a timer to make your garden water itself even when you may be forgetful.