Those who are already living a frugal lifestyle know how valuable being able to grow your own food can be. But, if you’re currently trying to find ways to downsize and limit your expenses, then starting a home garden can be a great way to do so. It’s also very convenient and you’d be surprised at the great results you could get. Let’s take a look at how you can grow a garden you can eat from all year round.
Do Research on Hydroponics
Hydroponics is the only way to get consistent results all year round. You’ll not only get more production with a smaller footprint, but your crops will grow much faster if you have the right setup and know what you’re doing. It’s also not as expensive as you’d imagine. You can find starter kits starting as low as £529.95 on a site like Progrow.co.uk and all the supplies that you need.
Another benefit of hydroponics is that they utilise water much more efficiently. They also don’t require that you use all sorts of chemicals to keep weeds and pests away.
Look for the Best Crops
Another very important part of growing a home garden is choosing the right crops. Some require more space than others, and some will get you much larger yields. Also, your setup will largely depend on which type of crops you’ll be growing. Some may require a more elaborate set up than others, which will cost you more. You also have crops that are tougher to grow and demand more experience and attention.
Herbs are a natural choice and a great option if your cuisine relies largely on them. However, know that growing hydroponically from cuttings will make your plants grow faster, stronger, and easier. There are also cases when you simply won’t be able to grow them from seed. I can think of herbs like Tarragon or Peppermint, for instance. So, if in doubt, always go for cuttings.
Leafy green vegetables are perfect for hydroponic growing. Vegetables like spinach, lettuce, and Bok choy are all great options, but we’d also suggest something like watercress. It’s highly nutritious (even more than kale and spinach) and grows to impressive yields with a small setup.
Other vegetables you could consider include tomatoes, bell peppers, and celery. Fruits like strawberries are also a great option.
Make Sure That You Have the Right Space
Hydroponic plants still need light to grow. While you can spend on grow lights, a space that gets a lot of natural sunshine can work. However, you also have to make sure that you’ll be able to keep the temperature steady in that space as water and ambient temperature is very important to plants. It is estimated that the optimal temperature range for a grow room is between 22 and 27 degrees Celsius, so you might have to invest in insulation and make sure that the room is properly heated with a good thermostat system.
Conclusion
Starting a garden from home is much simpler than many imagine, and could allow you to get delicious and highly nutritious crops all year long. We strongly suggest you look deeper into what it takes to start one and take baby steps at first until you get the hang of it.
