Have you ever commented that your plants do not grow as they should, or that they do not give good fruits and may even die. One of the things that can happen is that you have not taken care of them in a correct way, there are a series of common mistakes that especially happen when you are a beginner.
8 common mistakes in the vegetable garden
Here are 8 common mistakes that especially beginners can make.
- Choosing or misusing the substrate
Many times, for various reasons, we buy a substrate, which is not suitable for our plant, since it is usually a type of universal substrate, which is a standard. So before buying it or making it ourselves, we must know well what needs or peculiarities the plant needs, as for the type of roots that it is going to develop, the pH that it needs… To have an idea the ideal substrate must have the following characteristics: that it is light, with pH between 6-7, high porosity and with high content in nutrients.
2.- Not following the sowing calendar
This is one of the most common mistakes that is repeated not to follow the sowing calendars, and it is really important, since they indicate the optimal moment of sowing in different places, reason why in the long term it favors the growth of the plant, since it follows its natural cycle. Also following this calendar, will inform whether it is better to sow the seeds directly in the ground or germinate them in a seedbed.
- Improper sowing
Sowing correctly is one of the most important points when starting to cultivate. For example, if it is done directly in the soil, it is not advisable to bury the seed too much or to put them too close to each other.
Although we always have to keep in mind that there will be abortions in any species, so if it is a species that is difficult to germinate, it is always advisable to do it in a seedbed and then transplant.
- Excess of fertilizers
It is necessary to fertilize the soil, but in the measure that is necessary, starting from the needs of the plant as for nutrients, and the substrate in which it is. It is always worse an excessive fertilization, than a scarce one, since our plant can take very little time to die. It is also necessary to take into account, how many times and with how much water is watered, since the water washes away the minerals or nutrients, and an ecological fertilizer is always advisable.
- Excessive watering
It is important to be previously informed about the needs of the plant, as well as the substrate it has and to take into account the climate in which it is located. Depending on the species will vary the number of times of irrigation as well as how many days a week; the suitable thing is to water always at dawn or at dusk, especially in summer, so that the water does not evaporate immediately. You should not flood the pot, this usually happens when we go on vacation, but it is a great error, since the roots are left without oxygen quickly; to avoid it you can put a system of irrigation by drip.
- Excess or lack of sunlight
Plants need certain hours of light and darkness for their correct development. To avoid one problem as much as the other, it is enough to be informed of the photoperiod of the plant, that is to say the average number of hours of light that it needs, in this way, it is left in a sunny zone and it is removed once it has covered the same ones. It is not necessary to be strictly rigorous with this, since it can take a couple of hours more per day and it does not have in principle to happen anything bad to the plant.
- Poor prevention against pests and diseases
It is always convenient and necessary to prevent in the orchard, and especially if it can be done in an ecological way, so as not to damage the plant or the environment. It is advisable to treat with organic fungicides, especially after heavy rains. Also with ecological insecticides, especially in a preventive way, both if the pest has already occurred and if the area where the plant is located is prone to the appearance of pests.
- not pruning
It is necessary to remove the leaves that are dry or that interfere with the normal development of the plant; if this practice is not carried out, it favors the development of diseases, especially fungal diseases, since the plant would not be well aerated. It would also not capture sunlight equally in all its areas, which can lead to problems in its development. Pruning is also very important to increase production.
Agrohuerters, these are the most common mistakes that are repeated and you know that all of them are very easy to correct. Always keep in mind that excesses are worse than defects, because they are more difficult to fix, so avoid them as much as possible and enjoy your garden! See you next time.
I have 30 years of experience and i started this website to see if i could try and share my knowledge to help you.
With a degree a Horticulture BSc (Hons)
I have worked as a horticulture specialist lead gardener, garden landscaper, and of course i am a hobby gardener at home in my own garden.
Please if you have any questions leave them on the article and i will get back to you personally.
