Gardeners always struggle when deciding whether to grow crops, fruits, and flowers in a garden and yard. This decision-making process becomes crucial as a wrong space selection results in degraded yield and a waste of effort, time, and money. The question is what you should consider while choosing between a garden and a yard to grow the veggies.
To solve this puzzle, I have formed a structured guideline consisting of important factors to assist you in the selection process: garden or yard. By incorporating the factors, you will be able to decide which is the best option for you. So, why delay? Let’s start.
Understanding the Difference between Garden and Yard
The garden and yard are both open spaces ( sometimes with some shaded elements). Both of these spaces are used to grow plants, facilitate kids’ playing activities, put in adults’ physical effort, etc. In this way, the garden and yard are the same.
But, in critical consideration, there are vital differences. Considering the ideal characteristics, a yard is usually equipped with large trees, bushes, and vast open space.
In contrast, the garden has less empty space and is full of plants that are grown intentionally to get sources of fresh vegetables, flowers, etc.
Additionally, the space in a yard is used to play games, sun bathings, setting a temporary swimming pool, and so on. Unfortunately, a garden does not serve these purposes and is significantly dedicated to growing plants.
However, as both places have empty spaces, various vegetables can grow in consideration of certain criteria.
Importance of Choosing the Right Space to Grow Vegetables
Choosing the right location is crucial for getting a good yield. You must consider the factors listed below when choosing the space for growing vegetables.
Sunlight Exposure
Almost every vegetable thrives on direct sunny exposure to grow substantially. Studies show that the ideal sunny requirement is 5-8 hours per day for good plant growth and satisfactory yield.
So, whether you choose a yard or a garden, that place must have direct and adequate contact with sunlight.
Soil Quality
Soil quality matters a lot for plant growth, health, and yield. You must choose a yard or garden with fertile soil that is well-draining and contains nutrient elements. Based on the definition by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, “soil health is the capacity of soil to function as a living system, with ecosystem and land use boundaries, to sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain or enhance water and air quality, and promote plant and animal health.” This statement symbolizes the importance of soil quality in gardening and agriculture while mentioning that it not just about the soil particle but also other surrounding elements are associated with it.
Issue to Pests and Wildlife
Pests and wildlife can damage your plants and harvest. So, before selecting between a garden and a terrace, you must consider that the place is naturally protected from pests and wildlife. At least, you can create an artificial barrier to protect the harvest.
Enhanced Accessibility
Growing veggies means continuously and consistently performing various tasks like pruning, fertilizing, weeding, monitoring, addressing pest-related issues, etc.
All these activities demand that the space be easily accessible. So, consider the easy-accessibility factor while choosing between a garden and a yard.
Aesthetic Appeal
For me, and I know for you also, a vegetable garden is not just a source of food; it is about having an ornamental component in your garden that makes everyone astonishing. Creating a garden that is visually appealing is an art and triggers self-satisfaction. So, choose carefully between garden and yard, considering which space can enhance the visual appeal of the vegetable garden.
Checking Suitability of Yard to Grow Vegetable
The first and foremost requirement of a yard is to allow the kids and family to enjoy their leisure time. So, growing vegetables in the yard is only possible or suitable if the area is large enough.
Let’s assume that your yard is large enough to support the family’s leisure activities and growing vegetables. Now, you have to consider the following factors to evaluate whether the yard can support vegetable growth.
Factor 01: Sunlight
As a gardener, you know that vegetables thrive under sunlight. So, you must ensure that your yard is exposed to direct sunlight for at least 6 hours a day, facilitating photosynthesis, in which the plants transpose sunlight to energy for their survival. This is essential for optimal growth and good yield.
Factor 02: Soil Quality
In general, yard soil is specially treated to support kids’ playing and circulate a visual appeal without considering the nutrient value, texture, drainage capacity, etc.
But these are essential for good plant growth and yield. In this case, if you want to transform your yard into a garden, you must sacrifice the overall outlook of the yard’s decoration.
Factor 03: Water Access and Drainage
Growing plants means facilitating the soil beds with adequate and sound water access and drainage facilities. To do so, you must create slopes, trances, holes, etc., in your yard to ensure drainage facilities, which will destroy the look and function of the yard.
Factor 04: Wind and Pest Protection
Growing plants are subjected to protection from wind and pests to ensure the healthy growth of the plants and restrict the damage by the pests.
So, you are forced to create windbreakers and import various pest control measures to protect the plants. All these act as obstructions to the children’s activities in your yard,
Factor 05: Destruction of Aesthetic Appeal
Your yard is a crucial ornamental component of your house that you feel proud of. But if you transform the whole yard into a garden, the aesthetic appeal will disappear, and your loved ones will criticize you harshly.
Checking Suitability of Garden-to-Grow Vegetables
By definition and conventional context, gardens are dedicated to growing every type of plant, including veggies. From sunlight exposure to water drainage capacity, a garden facilitates you all without much effort.
The garden also does not obstruct your family activities and children’s playing while providing a source of fresh vegetables. In short, a garden is far better than a yard to grow vegetables in your house premises.
Ultimate Solution on Growing Venegables in Yard
Well, the above discussion clearly showcases that a yard is not a perfect option to grow vegetables. Here, the garden is the best option to grow vegetables.
Still, if you are desperate to grow veggies in your yard, I suggest you try the following vegetables.
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Eggplants
- Swiss Chards
- Lettuce
- Rainbow Chard
- Red Mustard Green
- Yellow and Red Beets
- Ornamental Kale
- Purple Cauliflower, and many more.
All these vegetables are low maintenance and have a vibrant coloring effect that increases the yard’s aesthetic appeal.
Tips to Grow Veggies in Yard
- Install solid fencing to protect the veggies from the animal.
- Make sure your children do not have any problems with any of these vegetables.
- Water the plants regularly.
- Before starting planning in your yard, consult with the community guidelines.
- Pick the vegetables from time to time to encourage higher yield.
Final Words
I hope that now you have a clear idea of the garden and yard choosing a location for a vegetable garden. The discussion clearly shows that a garden is the best option to grow vegetables.
But, if you do not have a garden, you can use a designated space in your yard to grow vegetables. In this case, you must be careful about using fertilizers, pesticides, installation of barbed wire, etc., so that your children do not get harmed.
