Vegetable gardening is a fun hobby to start. It’s a good stress-reliever as it makes you one with nature. Above that, when you have your vegetable garden, you’re certain of the food quality you’re serving. You can guarantee safe and pesticide-free vegetables when they’re all homegrown. This could be the reason why many households with the space and land area for it are now opting to have their own garden.
Before starting with one to keep you busy, there are essential tools you have to secure first. With those tools, you can be better and more adept at managing your vegetable garden. Your crops will be happy and soon enough, you can enjoy your harvest. If you’re interested in starting your home vegetable garden, these are some of the essential tools and equipment you may want to secure:
1. Rainwater Tank
As its name implies, a rainwater tank collects water from the rain, especially in abundance during storms. Cultivating your vegetable garden is a nice pursuit in the name of having organic and home-grown vegetables, but it can also increase your water consumption. Rather than experience an increase in your water bill, a practical solution is to store your water through a rainwater tank.
Apart from providing enough water for your vegetable garden, the rainwater tank may also give you enough water for other purposes like washing your car, cleaning your home, and taking a shower. With one, you can reduce your household’s overall dependence on commercial water sources. If you’re keen on having a rainwater tank installed in your home, you may want to consider this model as one of your choices.
2. Trowel
What’s a garden without a trowel? This is one of the most basic gardening tools every gardener will need to start their garden. You can use this small tool for a multitude of gardening tasks like:
- Breaking up clumps of soil
- Digging up weeds
- Digging small holes
As your crops start to grow, you’ll find yourself reaching out for your trowel quite frequently. Therefore, it’s a good idea to have at least two, in case your first one breaks. Or if you have kids with you, they can also use their own trowel to help out.
3. Gloves
While gardening can be a fun hobby, it can also send blisters on your hands. You need to protect yourself with a good pair of garden gloves. Here are some tips to help you in selecting one:
- Store your gloves in a proper place so it’s safe and away from insects
- Choose gloves that are durable but also not too bulky
- Always fit the gloves before buying
- Choose gloves that are water-resistant but also breathable, so your hands stay cool while planting
4. Pruning Shears
When harvest season comes, you’ll need a good pair of shears to cut your crops. Don’t just use ordinary scissors for this as there are shears meant for that purpose. A sturdy pair of pruning shears should be able to withstand cutting branches, which can be as thick as two inches or even wider.
5. Garden Fork
A garden fork is a tool used to dig into denser soil—one which a spade can’t withstand. When choosing a garden fork, always go for a stainless-steel option so it’s rust-resistant. A bonus feature would be to have one with an ergonomic grip, so your hands stay comfortable while using it.
6. Hose And Watering Can
With your rainwater tank, you now have a stable water supply. But you’ll need to have a tool that’ll take water from your rainwater tank to your vegetable garden through your garden faucets. This is where your garden hose and watering cans come in.
Nowadays, you can find different kinds of garden hose with different sets of sprinkler attachments. It’s for you to choose according to your preference and need in your garden. If you prefer to have watering cans, these are great, too, so you aren’t using any more water than what’s needed for your crops.
Conclusion
The list above contains only a few of the essentials. Once you get head-on with your vegetable gardening hobby, you’ll slowly learn the ropes of gardening as well as all the other tools and equipment you may need to add. You don’t have to buy all the equipment all at once. When this is only for household use, you can start small. The tools above can help you with the basics of vegetable gardening and how to ensure your crops stay happy and abundant. All that’s left to do is to start planting.