Ajit Karn
Benefits of growing an edible garden: Gardening has numerous health and therapeutic advantages and can be a great source of pleasure. It is an activity that can be enjoyed by everyone. People with disabilities, the elderly, and infants can find it exceptionally gratifying to minister to plants and produce their own food in a garden. With some planning and forethought, you can create an attractive, productive, and fascinating organic garden space.
An nutritious garden need not be expansive. You can begin your garden with a few planters, containers, or even a window box containing suitable cuttings or herbs. Here are defining Benefits of growing an edible garden.
Benefits of growing an edible garden
Research shows that gardening is a healthy activity. Working in the garden provides benefits that include:
- Enjoyment – from the physical activity
- Exercise – physical activity improves your endurance, strength, mobility and flexibility
- Relaxation – helps you relax and reduce stress levels
- Fresh food – provides you and your family with a healthy source of inexpensive fresh food.
- Appreciation of food growing – provides an appreciation of foods and their origin.
Grow things you can eat
A garden that contains appetizing blossoms, herbs, seeds, berries, and vegetation is called an edible garden. Flowers and herbs can be used in salads, to add flavor to prepared foods, to make infusions, or as garnishes. Raw or prepared, plants, vegetables, and fruits can be consumed.
The following blossoms, herbs, and vegetation are appropriate for an edible garden:
Flowers – borage, carnation, chamomile, chrysanthemum, fuchsia, geranium, hibiscus, hollyhock, honeysuckle, impatiens, lavender, lemon blossom, lilac, marigold, nasturtium, pansy, rose, salvia and violet.
Herbs – rosemary, basil, chives, sage, mint, oregano, parsley and thyme.
Seeds and berries – blueberries, mulberries, pumpkin and sunflower seeds.
Vegetables – lettuce, tomatoes, silverbeet, corn, capsicum and beans.
Fruits – rhubarb (stems are edible, but the leaves are poisonous), kiwi fruit, strawberries and passion fruit.
Plants and trees – all sorts of fruit trees including lemons, apricots and apples. Even the leaves from bay trees are great for use in stews and casseroles.
Everything you choose to consume should be thoroughly cleansed. Only consume flowers in salads that have been grown organically and are free of pesticides and other garden treatments. Some flowers, pollen, and foliage are potentially toxic.
An edible garden can be any size
A modest space can be utilized to plant a nutritious garden. Courtyards, balconies, terraces, and tiny gardens are all acceptable locations. If you do not require a raised garden plot, you can establish a space in the garden’s soil.
The chosen location should be flat, receive adequate sunlight, and provide some wind protection. There should be a garden faucet nearby so that you can easily irrigate plants, but the walking surface should not become slick. A carport, cabinet, and bench are useful for storing supplies and potting plants.
Suitable containers
There are a variety of containers that can be adapted to grow plants in. These include:
- Old wheelbarrows or prams (with hood removed or folded down for maximum sunlight) that can be moved about
- Old bathtubs or laundry tubs with holes for drainage
- Old car tyres that can be stacked on top of each other at different heights
- Plastic and terracotta pots on castors that can be moved around easily
- Large pots, polystyrene boxes, barrels, large terracotta pipes and recycled containers
- Purpose-built raised garden beds that can be made to suit your needs.
Gardening tips
Hints that will help you to create a successful edible garden include:
- If you have a north-facing wall, consider growing suitable plants or vines up the wall in containers.
- Remove weeds regularly as they rob the soil of valuable nutrients.
- Compost most garden materials (leave out the problem weeds) and all vegetables and fruit scraps from the kitchen.Make sure scraps are shredded well before composting.
- Use organic fertilisers and mulch to conserve water.
- Rotate crops regularly (every season or at least every year) to ensure that soil retains nutrients and the risk of diseases is reduced.
- Use non-chemical remedies like garlic, chilli spray or milk to ward off pests.
Also read: Surprising Benefits of Exercise for Mental Health
Protect yourself when you’re gardening
When you’re gardening outdoors, there are a few safety tips that you should follow. These include:
- Wear sunscreen and protective clothing including a hat, correct footwear and gloves.
- Warm up, bend and stretch before you start.
- Take regular breaks and don’t forget to stretch and change position often.
- Bend at the knees and don’t strain when lifting heavy objects.
- Drink plenty of water especially in warm weather.
- Store garden tools and equipment safely.
- Observe safety instructions when using potting mix, any sprays or fertilizers.
