5 Be-greener Tips for Effective Vegetable Gardening

Setting up a garden doesn’t need to be a daunting task. You don’t have to own a large land to grow your own crops, either. All you need is a small space in your backyard or even kitchen, an eagerness to maintain your plants, and a basic understanding of horticulture.

For the latter part, we’ve got you covered with our beginner tips for vegetable gardening.

• Start Small 

It’s easy to be overwhelmed with the idea of growing your own produce, especially when you’re a beginner. The best way to start your vegetable garden is to start small. You can use PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles as containers. You may design the bottles however you want for aesthetics, too! It’s free and good for nature (your Instagram, as well)!

• Easy to Grow

Since you’re starting small, choosing the right veggies is key to successful urban farming. Onion, garlic, potato, and lettuce are perfect for your first vegetable garden.

Onion doesn’t need that much water to grow as long as you add compost, whereas garlic can be grown both indoors and outdoors. Potatoes love a little acid in their soil; a PH level of 5.0 to 7.0 is good for them. While you can regrow store-bought lettuce by cutting its leaves an inch from the bottom.

• Use Compost

 A healthy crop doesn’t just grow by itself. You need to be sure that your soil comes from compost or organic waste, as opposed to using chemical fertilizers. Choosing organic will not just enrich the soil but also prevent pests and diseases in your plants.

• Location

It’s no brainer that plants need the sun to grow. So, choosing the right location for your veggies is important. Place them in a well-lit area where there’s enough sunlight for at least 6 hours in the day. This will keep your plants happy, plus they’ll grow faster.

• Water Deeply

 If you’re giving your veggies sunlight and good soil, but you don’t water it deeply enough, there’s a huge chance that the plants you took time sowing will just die along with all your efforts. Remember to water down to its roots, and not just the leaves.

If you’re feeling alone in your journey to sustainable food cultivation, you may find support from your community and organizations. ARC Refreshments Corporation has launched a program called, “Grow as One” campaign, demonstrating the company’s resilience in the new normal. The campaign has projects like “My Gulay Garden”, which was initiated by ARC Refreshments Corporation’s employees to help beginners like you in growing your own food.

The project also promotes sustainable urban gardening through the use of RC Cola PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles in your gardening activities. Reusing PET bottles as plant containers isn’t just friendly for your budget, it’s also friendly for the environment.

ARC Refreshments Corporation is the manufacturer of RC Cola, which is otherwise dubbed as the “RC ng Bayan” for its ties with Filipinos as the preferred cola drink for every occasion. Juicy Lemon, Seetrus, Fruit Soda Orange, Arcy’s Rootbeer, and Rite ‘N Lite are the other brands of the company that are known for their equally crisp, well-balanced, and satisfying flavors.