If you’re after a healthy, nutritious, and delicious supply of vegetables all year round, growing your own in pots is probably the answer. Even if you don’t have much space available in the garden or on the balcony, container gardening can be very rewarding.
Think about it – fresh vegetables at home whenever you want them, especially when they would otherwise be unobtainable because of seasonality; no more wilted lettuce or mangy carrots when organic produce is often commanding premium prices; use kitchen scraps like potato peelings to make rich compost for potted plants.
No matter where you live, whether it is a penthouse or any other place which is full of concrete and steel- great gardens can be grown at your homes too. All you need to do is give them some basic care and attention.
Here are some vegetables which can make a difference:
1. Tomatoes
It has been proved by scientists that growing tomatoes for a single season’s crop can bring down carbon dioxide from the surrounding atmosphere by about 25 pounds. To produce this amount of carbon dioxide, one may have to ride a 2-wheeler for more than 20 miles.
Pretty impressive!
2. Potatoes
A single plant can be grown in a container with a diameter of 5 feet and a depth of 3 feet. A total of 600 pounds of potatoes are produced per season by this method. It is also found that growing potatoes can reduce carbon dioxide by about 164 pounds. Plus, you will have an unlimited supply of potatoes for fries, and other delicious dishes.
Also read: 10 best foods to gain weight.
3. Onions
Growing onions at home are very easy, all you need to do is plant the seedlings in the spring season. The requirements for this plant are full sunlight and well-drained soil. If the right conditions are given, then it may sometimes produce 30-40 pounds per square yard root.
Onions are a staple for preparing many dishes but getting fresh produce every time could be difficult. The solution? Plant your own and you will also get freshly grown spring onions also.
Also read: best foods you can eat to promote hair growth.
4. Lettuce
If you have limited space but still want to grow fruits and vegetables, then you can grow lettuce on your balcony. Keep the pH level around 6 and add fertilizers like phosphorus and potassium for better growth of leaves. Lettuce is essential for salads and you can also prepare delicious and healthy lettuce rolls also.
Also read; 10 superfood that boost your mood.
5. Broccoli
One plant of broccoli produces nearly 2 pounds of vegetables within a time span of 45 days. It is believed that growing broccoli at home can reduce carbon dioxide by 12 pounds annually while consuming only 5 gallons of water. Moreover, it is a delicious vegetable and you can prepare a number of dishes with it.
6. Carrots
You need to dig a 3 feet deep and 1-foot wide hole to plant carrots and fill it with compost or dried manure mixed with soil. Water it regularly and wait for the root to develop, which will take about 70-80 days. One good thing about this vegetable is that it’s less prone to insects similar to potatoes. Planting it in a pot is tricky and this is why it is a better option if you have a lawn or backyard.
Also read: What are 10 healthy hair super foods.
7. Cabbage
One head of cabbage needs at least 20 square feet of area. It is grown in the spring season and tolerates both hot as well as cold climates! Cabbage is a delicious vegetable and you can add it to soups, fried rice, and salads. Being low in calories, it is ideal for weight-watchers and lovers of cabbage rolls.
8. Bell Peppers
If you are not aware of this interesting fact- bell peppers actually lose their bitterness once they ripen and turn into sweet red color. Try growing them at your balcony and fruits will be ready for harvest after just 90 days.
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9. Green Onion
Green onions do not require much attention however regular harvesting is needed otherwise they may take root and grow into bulb formation. Try growing them in a bucket with a diameter of 12 inches and a depth of 10 inches.
10. Spinach
A single plant of spinach can produce nearly 20 pounds of vegetables in a season. It recommends growing them in the spring season and full sunlight is needed. To grow healthy plants, add 2 tablespoons of fertilizer consisting of high nitrogen content to each plant.
If you are thinking that these plants will die under your limited sunlight then you are wrong because different varieties of tomatoes can be grown indoors using artificial light sources too.
Also read: 10 Health Benefits of Spinach You’re Unaware of.
To help with this, keep them near the house if possible so that they can benefit from the heat retained by its walls. If they’re outside there’s more flexibility as they’ll also benefit from residual warmth radiated back during the night.
And once you get started there’s a never-ending list of edible possibilities: salad leaves and Chinese leafy greens, peas, and beans of all kinds, spinach, and Swiss chard, carrots, and beetroot, tomatoes, and cucumbers, you name it!
Did you grow any veggies at home? Let us know and share some gardening tips with our viewers also.
Happy gardening!