Maybe in pursuing hobbies or love for greeneries, many people opt for vegetable gardening at home. In effect, the empty rooftops or the balconies of the house turns into a green oasis. Some people are doing this as a hobby and in hopes of getting a little peace from the everyday bustle of our mechanical life. With just a little knowledge of vegetable cultivation and effort, anyone can turn their rooftop or balcony into a beautiful garden. In the following, we will discuss everything about vegetable gardening, how to choose the right plants, their maintenance, and their costs.
How to get started
It doesn’t need much preparation or time to create a vegetable garden at home or, specifically speaking, on the roof or balcony of the house. When creating a rooftop garden, be mindful not to damage the roof in any way. For this, the pots of the planted vegetable trees should be kept near the columns on the edge of the roof. Otherwise, the roof can become damp and slippery. So it is better to place the pots on higher ground. Also, make sure enough light and air are reaching and circulating through the bottom of the pot.
Which vegetable plants to choose
It is essential to sort out the vegetables that you are interested in growing. There are thousands of vegetables and each needs a different cultivation technique. As a beginner, you may want to choose vegetable plants that can be easily cultivated with little effort. In that respect, choose the ones that grow throughout the year. You can choose some winter vegetables such as spinach or other similar vegetables like stalks, tomatoes, radishes, carrots, red pepper, coriander leaves, onions, garlic, sweet pumpkin, turmeric, etc.
Plantation
Collect high-quality seeds or seedlings from the nursery. If the seedlings are good then they will grow healthy. After planting, store the seedlings properly; arrange the tubs or trays in the right place, so that they do not get blown away by the wind or storm. Arrange the tub or tray in a way so that there is a walking path in the middle. Also, there should be enough space for each plant in between so that they can grow freely. It is essential to take these precautions during vegetable gardening at home.
Maintenance
First of all, you have to be aware of some common types of plant diseases. When you are planning to have a vegetable garden at home, try to consult with or take advice from an expert or an experienced person so that you can openly discuss all the issues. Remember you are not done making the garden until you are not intending to maintain it. You have to take care of the vegetables every day just the way you would to your indoor plants. You need to water them routinely, change the soil occasionally, and clean the weeds regularly. Use fertilizer or compost to make sure they get proper nutrition. If the seedling grows too dense, you can pick some up and plant elsewhere. Then there are pest and insect issues. Insect infestation in vegetable gardens is very common and if you are not careful about pest control, they can severely damage the plants.
Cost
When cultivating vegetables, you have to spend very carefully. Don’t just buy seedlings excessively. Be careful when using fertilizers, compost, soil, tubs, or trays. Always double check if they are in a good condition before using. There are different types of plant pots in the market. You can also make use of unused plastic, bottles, buckets, trays in tubs or trays to reduce costs. You will find compost mixed soil in the nurseries nearby. Usually, a few trays worth of compost mixed soil costs around BDT 100. Other than that, you don’t have to buy anything except tree saplings.
Recently, a company called Proshika in Dhaka has launched a package service for low-cost vegetable gardening at home. It costs BDT 1,440 per bed for three years. With this, the cost of seedlings per season stands at BDT 130.
Regardless of the size of the roof or balcony in your house, you can always cultivate vegetables there. All you need is proper planning and implementation. That way, not only will it provide for the family, one can also develop a great hobby in the process.
Hopefully, this article helps you get an overall idea about where to start. If you have any questions regarding the topic, feel free to let us know in the comments section below.
