Nervous About Growing Your Own Vegetables? Don’t Be!

You’re standing over the bell peppers in the produce section of your local Publix. Time and again, you wonder: Why are veggies so expensive? Would I save money if I grew this stuff myself? The truth is, growing your own vegetables is time consuming, but it is also fairly easy, can definitely save you money, and is far more rewarding than making a grocery run. In Hernando County, the time to plant vegetables is now so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor come summer. If you’re new to gardening, we’ve got a few tips to help you get started.

1. Pick the right seeds for your region. Veggies that thrive in the Pacific Northwest won’t work in our sandy soil, so do some online research or consult with a garden center professional about what will work in your particular area. A few possibilities are beans, cabbage, summer squash, Swiss chard, and peas just to name a few.
2. Plan your garden. Factors to consider are light (veggies need about six hours of sun; morning sun is best) and the proximity to a water source. Like your lawn and other landscape features, your vegetable garden will need to be irrigated regularly.
3. Prepare the soil. Prior to planting, enrich the soil with compost, manure, lawn clippings, and other organic materials to make sure your vegetables will thrive. The more enriched the soil, the less fertilizer you’ll have to use later.
4. Devise a plan to prevent and treat pests. If you plant flowers with your vegetables, they will draw the beneficial insects that can naturally combat the nasty critters that nibble away at young plants. If you use an insecticide, use it in early evening when bees and other pollinators are less active.
5. Plant your seeds or seedlings! Follow the directions on the seed packages to ensure that your future veggies get everything they need to flourish and feed your family. Be sure to weed regularly and pick your veggies as soon as they’re ripe so they don’t invite unwanted pests.
6. Enjoy your vegetables! There is nothing quite like grilling yellow squash that you grew yourself, or serving your family a healthy salad made from greens that you nurtured with your own hands. Once you’ve successfully grown your own veggies, you’ll only need your local Publix for those delicious Pub Subs.

Challenger Irrigation can help you with all of your irrigation needs, whether for your lush Spring Hill lawn or for your modest vegetable garden. Our family owned and run business has served the Hernando County area for over 25 years; we’d love to help your own family enjoy the landscaping that you work so hard to maintain.