What are some of the crops you can grow in a kitchen garden?
Consumers no longer
trust the quality of food that they buy from the market. The desire to eat
home-grown quality food has led to the innovation of various types and designs
of kitchen gardens that are fit for small spaces of land. But which crops can
do well in a kitchen garden?
A long time ago, the
term kitchen garden had a completely different meaning from what we know today.
Over the years, the term has transformed to mean something completely different
and to meet a need that is completely different from what it used to serve
those years.
Back then, let’s say,
ten years ago and before, the kitchen garden was known to be a small piece of
land that was immediately adjacent to the kitchen building. It was advocated
for mainly for two reasons:
- It was a way to recycle the kitchen wastewater: Used
water that escaped from the kitchen was channeled directly to the farm
instead of draining it through other means. Interestingly, kitchen gardens
were very popular in the African rural areas especially the water-scare
areas. There was no single drop of water that was supposed to go to waste,
either clean or dirty.
- Used to grow regularly consumed green vegetables: From
where I grew up, a kitchen garden simply meant a small onion plantation
behind the kitchen block. Leafy onion was one of the most grown kitchen
garden crops, and I think it is still the most popular up to date owing to
the fact that it is needed for every meal that is prepared every day.
You see, back then,
nobody designed a kitchen garden with the mentality of producing quality food
for sale of for self-consumption, no. A kitchen garden was an adaptation
mechanism to bridge the gap caused by water shortages and inadequate supply of
leafy vegetables in the market. But today, the story and history of kitchen
garden has changed completely- the desire to eat healthy “organic” food is the
key driving force behind the kitchen garden initiatives that have taken the
world by waves, especially the urban dwellers. It is clear that the consumer,
especially the urban population, does not trust the farmer anymore, and more so
the food distribution channels.
Read also: Cone kitchen garden
Medical reports have
been out there in plenty arguing that contaminated food contributes a lot to
the human diseases experienced nowadays. Food contamination may happen at the
farm level due to the improper use of chemicals. It can also happen along the
supply and value chains due to many factors like poor hygiene, addition of
preservatives, among others.
With this in mind,
many individuals and families now believe that the best way to eat healthy food
is by taking over the role of producing food themselves. Even though it is
provoked by the fear of contaminated food, this move is highly commendable
although it can only meet a small need in food demand.
Read also: Drip irrigation kitchen garden
So, if you are out
there and wish to start a small kitchen garden to grow a few crops for yourself
and your family, I encourage you to soldier on, and not to look back. You are
on the right course. I have done a small research to shortlist a few crops that
do well in a small kitchen garden, regardless of the type or design of your
garden. But I as have said, you cannot grow everything in a kitchen garden, a
huge percentage of your food will still have to come from the market. A kitchen
garden will only supplement a few food items.
Crops that grow well in a kitchen garden
1. Leafy
onions and garlic
Garlic and onion are
crops that are easy to maintain, and hence they do quite well in a kitchen
garden set-up. You rarely need to control pests because they have a bad smell
self-defense mechanism. As long as the soil is fertile and well-drained, your
onion and garlic will do well.
2. Coriander
(Dhania)
Coriander is very easy
to grow. Their seeds are easy to germinate and they do not need transplanting,
you sow the seeds where they will grow till maturity.
3. Cherry
tomatoes
Tomatoes are the most
suspected highly-contaminated food in the market due to pesticide residues.
Freshly homegrown tomatoes could be a good idea. Tomatoes varieties that are
described as “definite” are the most suitable for kitchen gardens because they do
not require trellising (mechanical support) since they do not grow tall
vertically.
4. Peppers
Peppers are equally
easy to grow. They have few pests as their enemies.
5. Runner
beans
Runner beans are
particularly convenient if you are using containers that are nailed to the
wall. The beans use the wall to climb and gain support. Growing these beans
creates a beautiful green environment on the walls of your house.
6. Amaranth
Though not very
common, leaf amaranth is well a good try in your kitchen garden. Seeds
germinate easily and they do not need transplanting.
7. Leafy
green vegetables
Sow a combination of
as many green leafy vegetables as you can. Vegetables such as kales, spinach,
collards, cabbages etc. do well in a kitchen garden environment. However you
need to watch out for pests as they are very susceptible.
8. Carrots
Carrots are also easy to grow and mature quickly. All you need to have is well-drained soil in deep containers.
Why should you buy vegetables when you can grow them?
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