How to Grow Vegetables
In today's accelerating urbanization, home vegetable gardening has become an important way for city people to connect with nature. With scientific planning of the planting process, even balcony spaces can yield fresh fruits and vegetables. This article will systematically explain the complete planting skills from seeds to harvest, helping you easily create a home vegetable garden.
Four Key Steps of Vegetable Planting
Seed Selection and Pretreatment
High-quality seeds are the foundation of successful planting. It is recommended to choose new varieties that are resistant to diseases, such as cherry radishes and mini cucumbers, which are suitable for planting on balconies. Use the saltwater test method for selection: soak the seeds in 5% salt water, and the plump seeds that sink to the bottom have a germination rate of over 90%. Before sowing, seeds can be soaked in warm water for 4 hours to promote the activation of the germ.
Soil Improvement and Application of Base Fertilizer
The planting matrix is recommended to use a sandwich structure: the bottom layer is铺陶粒 to enhance drainage, the middle layer is mixed with decayed leaf soil + perlite (3:1), and the top layer is added with worm manure fertilizer. Add 200g of bone meal per square meter to supplement phosphorus, and watering with EM bacteria solution can enhance soil activity. It is recommended to use food-grade plastic boxes for potted planting, with drainage holes reserved at the bottom.
Accurate Sowing and Plant Management
Leafy vegetables should be sown by broadcasting, maintaining a 2cm plant spacing; fruit vegetables are recommended to be sown in holes, with 2-3 seeds per hole. The thickness of the covering soil follows the principle of 'three times the diameter of the seed'. Use an intermittent sprinkler system to keep the soil moisture at 60%-70%. After the true leaves spread, use LED plant growth lights to supplement light for 4 hours a day to promote the robust growth of seedlings.
Intelligent Maintenance and Ecological Pest Control
It is recommended to use organic liquid fertilizer, with a N-P-K ratio of 3-1-2 during the seedling stage, adjusted to 1-3-3 during the fruiting stage. Set up yellow boards to trap aphids, and prepare chili garlic water in a 1:50 ratio to control red spiders. Using a three-dimensional planting frame can increase space utilization by 300%, and an automatic drip irrigation system can achieve intelligent management.
Home vegetable gardening is both an art of living and an ecological practice. By scientifically planning the planting cycle (leafy vegetables 20-30 days, fruit vegetables 60-90 days), and rationally matching fast-growing and slow-growing varieties, it is possible to achieve continuous harvest throughout the year. Beginners are advised to start with easy-to-grow varieties such as lettuce and cherry tomatoes, and gradually establish an ecological micro-cycle for home planting.