Starting a vegetable garden? Avoid these 9 pitfalls
As you dig your hands in the soil and sow your first vegetables, you’re already fantasizing about your first fresh harvest. And you’re not the only one! More than a quarter of Dutch people now grow their own vegetables or herbs, in their garden or on their balcony – and another quarter would like to*. But then: the snails get there first, the radishes get tough, and your tomatoes burst before you can harvest them. Starting a vegetable garden is actually easier than you think – if you can avoid these classic pitfalls.
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These are the biggest pitfalls that almost everyone has to deal with. We tell you why this happens and especially how to avoid these pitfalls.
What's going wrong? Ideally, you want everything at once: a full vegetable garden with tomatoes, carrots, herbs, strawberries - and preferably all in the first season. But such an ambitious start is often too much of a good thing. The overview is lost, it costs too much maintenance, and there is a big chance that you will drop out in frustration.
Why is this happening? You’ve gotten excited (obviously) by all those inspiring photos and videos of abundant harvests that experienced gardeners show on the internet. You want that too, and fast! But a vegetable garden requires patience, rhythm, and experience – something you build up as you go.
How to prevent it? Start small. One raised bed, a few large pots or a square meter is more than enough to start a vegetable garden. Choose easy crops like radish , lettuce or zucchini first. This will keep it manageable, teach you what works in your garden and keep you motivated to continue. You can always expand later.
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What goes wrong? You enthusiastically sow all sorts of vegetables together, without a plan or overview. Result: plants get in each other's way, some don't do well because they were sown at the wrong time, and you soon don't know what is where.
Why does this happen? The urge to 'just start' is strong - especially when the weather is nice. But without planning you lack structure, and that causes chaos in the garden and frustration for yourself.
How do you prevent it? Make a simple plan. Think about how much space you have, what you want to eat, and which plants go well together. Also take into account sowing times and growth periods. A sowing calendar, garden app, Excel file or a simple garden logbook can help you keep a grip on your vegetable garden.
What's wrong? Your vegetable garden is in the shade , right next to a high fence or under a tree. Or in a place where water remains after rain. Your plants grow poorly or get sick, and you don't understand why.
Why does this happen? Not everyone knows what to look for when choosing a vegetable garden spot. Many people just use the corner that is still free, even if it is actually unsuitable.
How do you prevent it? Choose a sunny spot: most vegetables need at least six hours of sun per day. Pay attention to the soil: does the water drain well after a rain shower? And think practically: is there water nearby, can you get to it easily? A good spot makes the difference between frustration and success.
What goes wrong? You sow too early , which means seeds don't germinate or young plants die from the cold. Or you are too late, which means your vegetables don't have time to produce a harvest before the end of the sufficient growing season.
Why does this happen? Sowing calendars sometimes seem contradictory and the weather doesn't always cooperate. As a result, beginners rely too much on feeling, or they reach for seeds because 'it's spring after all'.
How to prevent it? Always check if it is the right time to sow. The information on the seed packet is a good starting point, as are reliable sowing calendars. Also, don't be afraid to start later in the season: even in May or June you can still sow a lot, such as runner beans , courgette or lettuce. And if you are too late with sowing, you can always buy vegetable garden plants from the nursery or in the garden centre.
What goes wrong? You start with good intentions and choose difficult crops like cauliflower, eggplant or watermelon. But they need a lot of care, attention and space – more than you can offer in your first year without experience.
Why does this happen? The temptation is great to immediately try all the crops that you want to eat or that you like. But some crops are demanding or only do well in the right weather or on a specific type of soil.
How do you prevent it? Start with easier vegetables that require less care and that almost always do well in our climate. Think of lettuce, radish, courgette or herbs such as chives, oregano or various oriental herbs . They grow quickly, require little maintenance and are good for beginners. Once you have gained experience, you can always try more challenging crops.
Tip!
What goes wrong? You plant your vegetables neatly after Ice Saints , but they remain small or discolour. Or they grow crooked, burst open or become sick.
Why does this happen? The soil often gets too little attention, while it is the basis of a healthy vegetable garden. Much garden soil is too poor, too compact or too wet. And plants that do not root well or receive too little nutrition, lag behind in growth.
How to prevent it? Invest in improving your garden soil . Start by loosening the soil and mixing in compost. If you have clay or sandy soil, improve it with organic matter. Or opt for a raised bed with fresh vegetable garden soil. Healthy soil produces a healthy harvest.
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