Vegetable garden mistakes can be common if you don’t fully understand what you’re doing. It’s not a case of plant them and they will grow.

You do need some expert advice on avoiding common vegetable garden mistakes. So are you planning on growing your own vegetables? Not only is it very rewarding, but you will find that home-grown vegetables taste more delicious than the ones you buy from the supermarket if you plant them properly.

With that in mind, no matter whether you are an experienced gardener or not, read on to discover some of the most common vegetable garden mistakes that you need to avoid.

vegetable garden mistakes

Common Vegetable Garden Mistakes

  • Giving pests a place to rest – You need to inspect your crops at least once every week to ensure pests are kept at bay. Take a few minutes every day to inspect the lower surface and the upper surface of the leaves. If you come across any pests, eliminate them as soon as possible. This is not something you can afford to ignore if you want to have a healthy garden. It does not take long for insect populations to explode once a pest gets a foothold, and this can destroy an entire crop.

 

  • Not giving the plants enough support – A number of vegetables do their best when they can grow up, through, or over support that ensures the fruit does not touch the ground. This includes melons, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Melons can be trained to sprawl over a mesh trellis or tunnel while tomatoes grow their best when they are in a study cage that has been designed especially for them.

 

  • Overplanting – It is very easy to get carried away when you are growing herbs and vegetables. In the end, we attempt to grow every type of vegetable we come across in the seed catalog. This is ill-advised. Focus on the herbs and vegetables you know your family like. If you plant too many vegetables, it is going to take a huge amount of your time, and this could lead to other chores falling by the wayside, including watering and weeding.

 

  • Watering too little or too much – To ensure a good harvest, consistent watering is a must. Most crops require approximately one inch of moisture every week. If you don’t water certain vegetables consistently, such as melons and tomatoes, they may crack. Plus, your crops will also suffer if excess water puddles develop in your garden. The best way to keep on top of watering commitments is to buy a reticulation system. This will enable you to control when the water is turned on and for how long, ensuring your vegetable garden gets the right amount of water consistently.

 

vegetable garden mistakes

Planting too early – Last but not least, this is one of the most common vegetable garden mistakes that even experienced gardeners make. While you may be eager to get in the garden, it is important that you do not plant ‘tender crops’ if you live somewhere at risk of the temperature dipping below freezing.

Examples include pepper, eggplant, melon, cucumber, and tomato. Until nightly temperatures reach a minimum of 55 degrees F, your vegetables should remain undercover.

If you are desperate to give your vegetables a head start, plant them under some form of protection, such as a milk jug or grow cloth.

Plus, Fertilizing!

You’ll also enjoy reading about how earthworm castings can easily fertilize lawns, vegetables, flowers, and indoor and outdoor plants.

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vegetable garden mistakes