Creating a productive vegetable garden for the whole family

If you have the old idea that it is impossible to feed your family with your own vegetable garden, this article will convince you otherwise! Indeed, growing vegetables for a household of 2, 4 or even 6 people is quite feasible, it requires much less time and energy than you think, and it has several advantages.

First, nothing beats the taste of fresh vegetables grown by yourself. Secondly, growing your own vegetables is an ecological and economical way to eat healthily – even organically depending on the soil, amendments and seeds you choose (who doesn’t like saving money and eating better at the same time? We ask!) As a bonus, gardening is great for your mind and body!

Vegetable gardens for 2, 4 or 6 people: size, maintenance and quantities to grow

First of all, you should know that a garden should have at least 6 hours of sunlight per day to maximize your crops. This will probably have an impact on the location of your vegetable garden, whether it is in a pot or in the ground.

When choosing plants, first choose fruits and vegetables that your family likes to eat. The goal is not to be wasteful. Everyone will enjoy growing and eating fresh food from the garden. Raising awareness about food waste is another good reason to grow your own garden.

Here are some suggestions for the size of the garden and the amount of vegetables to plant depending on the number of people in the household. Of course, you are free to adjust this list according to your tastes and needs.

Vegetable garden for 2 people

Size: about 3 m² (1 m x 3 m)
Maintenance time: 30 minutes per week, excluding spring opening and fall closing.
Quantity and variety of plants:
- 1 bag of lettuce seeds
- 1 bag of radish, spinach or kidney bean seeds
- 1 bag of beet seeds
- 1 bag of carrot seeds
- 3 tomato plants
- 3 celery plants
- 1 cucumber plant
- 1 zucchini plant
- 10 onion plants
- 5 garlic plants
- 2 basil plants
- 2 pots of herbs of your choice (grown separately)

Vegetable garden for 4 people

Size: about 8 m² (2 m x 4 m)
Maintenance time: 1 hour per week, excluding spring opening and fall closing.
Quantity and variety of plants:
- 1 bag of lettuce seeds
- 1 bag of radish or spinach seeds
- 1 bag of beet seeds
- 1 bag of carrot seeds
- 1 bag of snow pea seeds
- 1 bag of bean seeds
- 1 packet of turnip seeds
- 3 tomato plants
- 3 celery plants
- 2 cucumber plants
- 2 zucchini plants
- 3 bell pepper plants
- 3 cauliflower plants
- 7 garlic plants
- 20 leek plants
- 30 onion plants
- 4 basil plants
- 2 pots of herbs of your choice (grown separately)

Vegetable garden for 6 people

Size: approximately 32 m² (4 m x 8 m)
Maintenance time: 1.5 hours per week, excluding opening in spring and closing in fall.
Quantity and variety of plants:
- 1 bag of bean seeds
- 1 bag of sweet pea seeds
- 1 bag of snow pea seeds
- 1 bag of lettuce seeds
- 1 bag of carrot seeds
- 1 bag of beet seeds
- 1 bag of radish seeds
- 1 bag of spinach seeds
- 1 bag of chard seeds
- 6 cauliflower plants
- 6 celery plants
- 6 bell pepper plants
- 20 leek plants
- 12 cabbage or cabbage head or broccoli or kale plants
- 7 tomato plants
- 12 lettuce plants
- 3 zucchini plants
- 3 cucumber plants
- 20 onion plants
- 15 garlic plants
- 5 plants of basil
- 2 parsley plants
- 1 oregano plant
- 1 rosemary plant
- 1 chive plant
- 2 pots of edible flowers

Of course, you can adjust this to suit your available space. For example, planters and tubs will do very well if you don’t have enough land to grow your vegetables in the ground.

What soils, composts and fertilizers to use for a productive vegetable garden

The soil in which you grow your vegetables is the basis for the success of your crops. It’s best to choose it and its amendments carefully!

Vegetable Garden Soil Mixes

If you’re starting a vegetable garden from scratch, it’s best to choose a complete planting mix, such as the VEGETABLE GARDEN 3/1 Planting mix. Enriched with compost, this planting mix promotes an abundant harvest and ensures a rapid transplant recovery.

If your space is limited and you opt for a container garden, it is best to choose a soil specially adapted for growing vegetables and herbs in outdoor containers, such as the Urban Garden Container Mix. In addition to being approved for organic growing, This potting soil contains coconut husk fiber to retain and release water according to the needs of the plants and thus, reduce the frequency of watering.

Composts

Composts improve soil structure and provide essential nutrients to plants. Fafard offers you a selection of composts that will allow you to improve your soil according to its deficiencies. It is a good idea to add compost to the soil of your vegetable garden in the spring, about two weeks before planting.

Vegetable garden fertilizers

Natural fertilizers, such as the Natural Fertilizer for VEGETABLE GARDENS or the Natural Fertilizer for URBAN GARDENS, stimulate the biological activity of the soil. This source of organic matter gradually releases its nutrients for long-lasting effects, resulting in strong plants and tasty vegetables in large quantities. Fertilizers can usually be applied during soil preparation in the spring and then regularly throughout the season, once every four weeks.

It should be noted that the majority of Fafard products are approved for organic farming. Growing your own vegetables is so rewarding! You will enjoy gardening with your family. Visit a garden center near you to find everything you need to start your own vegetable garden. Happy gardening!

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What to plant in your garden to feed your family

Vegetable gardens for 2, 4 or 6 people: size, maintenance and quantities to grow

Vegetable garden for 2 people

Vegetable garden for 4 people

Vegetable garden for 6 people

What soils, composts and fertilizers to use for a productive vegetable garden