Why You Should Grow Your Vegetable At Home
Grow Your Vegetable At Home
Have you ever thought of this very simple fact that all the good and healthy things in life are either free or can be gotten absolutely cheap.
From the air you breathe, to the various food you eat (fruits and vegetables) can be gotten in abundance. But it requires you to make a deliberate and calculated effort to grow your vegetables at home.
You will also derive the benefits of eating fresh, chemical-free, organically grown vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals when you grow your vegetables at home.
I have come to the realization that been healthy by and large, to a larger extent is dependent on the choice and decision you make in life concerning your health. What you grow, what you eat, when you eat it, and how you ate it.
How you will attain a good health status, how you will maintain it, how you will harness the available resources you have at your disposal, is all up to you to decide.
One good advantage of growing your vegetables at home, is they do not require a large expanse of land, or space to cultivate them especially when it’s for personal consumption.
When building our first home, one of the first things we put into consideration. Is ensuring that a good portion of our compound is made available for the sole purpose of growing vegetables at home, and planting good healthy fruits.
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Going Organic Good For Growing Vegetables
Providing vegetables for your family involves planning from day one, putting the landscaping of your property into consideration.
When planning to grow your vegetables, you consider vegetables that grow well in your environment, putting into consideration the weather condition, soil particles and composition, and your geographical location.
The best way to have wholesome, healthy, mineral, and vitamins rich vegetables is to go organic working in harmony with nature.
By using natural and organic materials obtain within your locality as a result of other farming activities you are involved in.
The idea is to have free organic manure in abundance that will boost your vegetable production at no cost.
Importance of growing your vegetables at home to your health
Most greenly vegetables contain vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and dietary fiber that are highly beneficial to your health.
Phytochemicals are defined as bioactive nutrient plant chemicals found in fruits, vegetables, grains, and other plant foods that may provide desirable health benefits beyond basic nutrition to reduce the risk of major chronic diseases (Liu, 2004).
Popular vegetables that can be grown around us with immense health benefit includes waterleaf, bitter leaf, tomatoes, spinach, onions, garlic, etc.
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okra
Tomatoes
Tomatoes help in fighting against cancer helps in reducing high blood pressure and blood glucose in people with diabetes.
Tomatoes are extremely good for the eyes it contains carotenoids such as lutein and lycopene. These can protect the eye against light-induced damage.
They are rich in fiber, low in fat and calories, contain a lot of water which helps to keep you hydrated.
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Waterleaf
Talinum fruticosum is native to Mexico, the Caribbean, West Africa, Central America, and much of South America.
It is known with other names as Ceylon spinach, waterleaf, cariru, Gbure, Surinam purslane, Philippine spinach, Florida spinach, potherb fameflower, Lagos bologi, and sweetheart.
It is widely grown in tropical regions as a leaf vegetable. It is a very popular vegetable among the Igbo ethnic group of Nigeria.
In growing your vegetables at home consider water leaf because it is very rich in vitamins, including vitamins A and Vitamin C, it is found to be rich in minerals such as iron and calcium, due to the high content of oxalic acid.
Ugo is popular among the Igbo people of Nigeria
ugo leaf
Bitter leaf
Bitter leaf Vernonia amygdalina (family of asteraceae) is a very popular vegetable in many parts of Africa particularly Nigeria, Cameroon, and Zimbabwe.
The bitter leaf may be used as an active anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-malarial, and anti-medicinal plant that is widespread in both East and West Africa.
Pharmacological studies have also shown that the leaf extracts have both hypoglycemic and hypolipidaemic properties in experimental animals and so could be used in managing diabetes mellitus.
Vegetables have all the essential nutrients namely vitamins, minerals, fibers and that form resistance to diseases naturally.
Onion and Garlic
The Allium family includes garlic, onions, shallots, leeks, and chives Garlic and onions: are known to help in the prevention of cancer.
These vegetables are popular in cuisines worldwide and are valued for their potential medicinal properties.
Onion and garlic have great medicinal qualities, therefore it is very important you consider them when growing your vegetables at home.
They should be among your top list of vegetables to be grown. Most especially if you are a fan of herbal and natural healing.
Studies have shown that Allium consumption, indicates a decreased risk of cancer, particularly cancers of the gastrointestinal tract.
Most of the vegetables have anti-aging properties. Regular consumption of such vegetables ensures a young look, healthy skin, and healthy feeling to your body. Younger looks give you more confidence.
onions
The health hazard of buying vegetables from the market
Health risks
One of the good advantages of growing your vegetables is the complete elimination of health risks. Associated with consuming farm products sold at the farmers market that is often linked to foodborne illness.
From pathogens such as salmonella, shigella, campylobacter, staphylococcus aureus, toxin-producing Escherichia coli, and listeria.
Most importantly you can’t vouch for such vegetables to be free from the use of inorganic fertilizer, chemicals, and pesticides or herbicides, which could be harmful to your health.
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The benefit of growing your vegetables at home
One distinctly clear benefit of growing your vegetables at home is a simple fact that your vegetables are grown organically.
Free from all sorts of chemicals and fertilizers, everything is natural from the soil composition, manure, and water used.
Growing your vegetables at home has many health benefits these includes:
- Your vegetables are chemical-free.
- They are always harvested fresh therefore the nutrients are intact.
- It keeps you physically active because you are always involved in physical activities, by sweating osmoregulation is involve, your heart is always pumping blood.
- Your body is always exposed to the natural sunlight when working in your garden, which of course is a good source of vitamin D. no better way to get vitamin D than working in your gardens especially in the morning at sunrise.
- By growing your vegetables at home, you are guaranteed farm-fresh vegetables from your garden. It means a lot of money that would have been used in buying such vegetables from the farmers market is saved for other family needs, a wise decision.
- By growing your vegetables at home you are purifying the environment by promoting a lot of natural biological processes such as symbiosis, photosynthesis, and the action of microorganisms on the biodegradable matter for upward utilization by your plants and vegetables.
READ: Vitamin D Sources Deficiency And The Overall Benefits.
African eggplant (Yalo)
How to grow your vegetables at home
Growing your vegetables at home is a worthwhile venture that requires meticulous planning and effort the following points will help you in growing your own vegetables at home.
Choose a good location
In growing your vegetables at home, you have to put into serious consideration the location of your garden.
It should be free from shades, structures that will hamper direct sunlight from reaching the plants (photosynthesis).
Are you considering using well water, or stream water the location of your gardens matters to facilitate easy access to these sources of water.
The soil topography also matters to prevent erosion, excessive water drainage, etc.
Water
Next to the soil is water, for without a constant supply of water nothing will work, so what will be the major supply of your water needs? Is it rainfall? What happens during the dry season or when the rains stop.
The first thing first, is to make adequate provision for the constant supply of water either through the well, borehole, stream, or river that will be a channel to your vegetable garden by means of a water pump.
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Soil Preparation
Soil preparation involves making ridges and beds for your veggies putting into serious consideration the type of soil to be used.
Loamy soil is considered ideal for gardening and agricultural uses because it retains nutrients well and retains water while still allowing excess water to drain away.
It is recommended that you mix organic manure with your soil at least more than a month before planting.
This is to allow the action of microorganisms to properly decompose the compost manure, and neutralize any harmful microorganism.
Making both macronutrients and micronutrients available for the plants to use. This is true especially for chicken manure which is harsh on plants when applied directly.
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working in the garden
Selecting the Right Vegetables to Grow At Home
It is important that you do your research very well in selecting vegetables to be grown at home. The vegetables should be rich in minerals and vitamins with good medicinal attributes.
Vegetables that are peculiar to your region and climatic condition. Also, vegetables that are relish in your community and are popular in the local traditional menu of your area.
In most African settings vegetables such as waterleaf, bitter leaf, ugo, onions, tomatoes, garlic, peppers, okra, carrots, etc. are popular among the populace.
Planting Season
Every vegetable plant has its own peculiar planting season when the weather and climate are most favorable for the vegetable to thrive. Using this opportunity will produce and guarantee a high yield.
Plant the Seeds
Place your seeds or plants into the soil accordingly, following the depth and spacing directions carefully suitable for the particular vegetable you are planting. Each plant has its own depth and spacing for maximum yield.
The Application of Mulches
Mulches are very important in gardening it helps in the conservation of soil moisture, improving fertility and health of the soil, reducing weed growth and enhancing the visual appeal of the area.
In a layman’s language mulches means any material that covers the soil to preserve moisture content, prevent soil erosion, and inhibit weed growth for organic gardening.
materials that can be used for mulches include leaves, pine needles, straw, Organic residues: grass clippings, leaves, hay, straw, kitchen scraps comfrey, shredded bark, whole bark nuggets, sawdust, shells, woodchips, shredded newspaper, cardboard, wool, animal manure, etc.
Uses of mulches in vegetable gardening
- Mulches help in protecting the soil
- Mulches help in increasing soil infiltration
- Reduce evaporation
- Regulate soil temperatures
- Mulches are used to control weeds
- And to prevent evaporation for more crop yields
- Mulches increase biological activities and the organic matter of the soil thereby increasing the soil nutrients.
Conclusion
When you talk of healthy living, vegetables no doubt should be an integral part of your everyday diet. Many of us take this for granted. One of the easiest ways you can constantly have it in your diets is growing your vegetables at home yourselves.
References
- Therapeutic foods: Handbook of food bioengineering
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/phytochemical
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29983933/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4510714/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3138040/#:~:text=Vernonia%20amygdalina%2C%20commonly%20known%20as,%2C%20Nigeria%2C%20Cameroon%20and%20Zimbabawe.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4366009/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5636238/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016624810870583
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4366009/
