The thought of having a personal vegetable garden is fulfilling and one that most people have once in a while. However, most people forget to put in the work to have one for themselves. Procrastinating on preparing and planting will only keep you far away from the benefits of having a vegetable garden. Whether it is in your home or rentals either of them is possible. On the other hand, you do not have to start with a bounty of vegetables as you can start with one and keep on adding more with time. The goodness you get and the number of vegetables you will enjoy fresh from your garden will be worth the time you spent. Here are 7 reasons to have a vegetable garden.
1. There are different varieties to try
When there is an endless array of options to choose from for your vegetable garden. This is a great reason why you should have one. Wouldn’t it be disappointing to grow just one vegetable when you can grow two or more? Try planting tomatoes, greens, chilies, kale among others for your vegetable garden or start with one first.
Also, visit your local nursery to see the options they have on a popular vegetable that you can start on your vegetable garden. Plus, if you already enjoy growing your vegetables, you can try more varieties for a change. For instance, you can choose a different type of cabbage to the one you’re used to growing.
2. You always have food
This is a great reason to grow your vegetable garden. When you feel lazy to go grocery shopping your vegetable garden provides you with food to eat. Also, you are not limited to what the grocery store provides as their vegetables contain what sells out most. When you grow your vegetables you are sure to get some vegetables that you can make a decent dinner out of. Plus, there is no hassle of traffic, long queues and coming home late to prepare dinner. There are many recipes that you can try. All of which can make an easy, healthy and delicious dinner from various vegetables without making a quick trip to the store.
3. They taste better than store vegetables
If you were used to buying vegetables, once you grow yours you will enjoy how they taste much better. Probably, because they are fresh and you planted them. Nonetheless, you do not want to miss out on the fresh produce that is right at your home and a result of your hard work. Also, store vegetables are picked before ripening to ripen in stores and thereafter are put on grocery shelves for sale. Therefore, as long as they do not ripen on the plant they do not have the burst of flavor that you get with a vegetable you harvest ripe from your garden. Especially, with tomatoes, green peppers and others of the like that are best harvested ripe.
4. It is a great pass time activity
Not only will you be excited to eat your veggies but you will learn a very rewarding hobby. This is good for you, your children, and partner. It is a handy skill in times of crisis too.Besides, your kids will prefer the vegetables they planted to store vegetables making them excited to eat their veggies. Although at first, they may not like it for it looks like hard work or they will uproot the plants instead of the weeds. No need to worry, eventually they will learn and enjoy it and with time they will have a sense of pride when they see the vegetables grow. Later on, they will do it for fun as a pass time activity and before you know it you are contributing to the farmer’s market.
5. They stay fresh for longer
Many people are not aware of this, but garden vegetables stay fresh for longer. The comparison of the two is quite evident as store vegetables go soft in a few days after purchase. While the ones from the home garden have weeks of freshness after harvest. This will always be the case as those from the store are harvested a week or two before they were displayed on the shelves. While the ones in your garden are picked when they are ready and for cooking immediately. Since there is no need to harvest a lot from your garden you can have them picked when necessary unless otherwise.
6. It is affordable
The affordability of having to grow a vegetable garden is on many levels. When you consider the fertilizer you use, it is possible to keep it organic as it is readily available. Although, there are times you will need to purchase non-organic vegetables. When it comes to gardening you have an option and the differences in terms of their affordability are comparable. Hence, for this reason, you are in a position to choose what to plant as it is your vegetable garden that feeds you and your family.
7. You can preserve the harvest
Not every season is a growing season. Therefore, you can decide to grow a vegetable garden that helps you to preserve food for later in the year when you cannot grow any. This is common with people who have a specific growing season. For instance, you can freeze the corn, can the green beans, and tomatoes and others according to how you know best. This prevents you from having to buy some vegetables when the growing season is over and enjoy as your garden still feeds you.
Given the above reasons to have a vegetable garden. There is more to them and the benefits show how a simple solution helps save money, it is better for the environment and economy among other benefits. Therefore, whether you plant a few kales or you have a large backyard garden of various vegetables. It is a great way to know where your food comes from and you do not need a gardenas container gardens and potted plants work as well.