The type of soil you have and the climate that characterizes your geographical area are fundamental elements to consider when choosing the vegetable garden plants to cultivate.
To be suitable for hosting your vegetables, your soil should be loamy, not too stony, and rich in organic substances that plants need to nourish and grow.
To avoid dangerous water stagnation, which could ruin the crops, the soil should be (as much as possible) flat or well-worked so that there are no depressions.
Keep in mind that even if the starting conditions of your soil are not optimal, you can still improve them both through cultivation and by modifying its structure. For example, if you add sand, you will make a very compact soil more permeable.
The climate is the other determining factor for achieving satisfactory results, so knowing the characteristics of your area well will allow you to choose wisely without making mistakes.
Finally, you will also need to evaluate the sunlight exposure that your vegetable garden plants can benefit from. Most varieties of crops require direct full sun for at least 7 hours a day.
Some species, such as lettuces for example, grow better if cultivated in partial shade, so half a day in the sun, half in the shade.
In this article, we will delve into the following topics:
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How many and what types of soil are there?
1. Gravelly soil: not suitable for vegetable plants
2. Sandy soil: fertilize and water often
3. Silty soil: add organic matter
4. Calcareous soil: ideal for cabbages and cauliflowers
5. Clayey soil: how to improve it
6. Loamy soil: the best type for vegetable plants - How to make the soil soft to host vegetable plants
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4 Vegetable plants suitable for all types of soil
1. How to grow tomatoes: water, fertilize, and support
2. How to transplant lettuces: leave ⅓ of the cube above the soil
3. How to grow zucchini in the garden: space and mild climate
4. How to grow aromatic herbs, easy and useful for the garden
How many and what types of soil are there?
We said that knowing the type of soil is fundamental for deciding which plants to cultivate because, over time, different species of plants have adapted to grow in soils with certain characteristics.
In nature, we can find 6 different types of soil:
- Gravelly
- Sandy
- Silty
- Clayey
- Calcareous
- Loamy.
Let's look at them together.
1. Gravelly soil: not suitable for vegetable plants
Gravelly soil contains at least 40% stones, pebbles, and coarse sand. It is a very porous soil, where water flows quickly, dry and poor in organic matter and therefore not very fertile.
If you have this type of soil, you will need to work as much as possible with spade and hoe to remove stones and pebbles and add sand and manure.
2. Sandy soil: fertilize and water often
Sandy soil consists of at least 70% sand. It is light, loose, very permeable, and poor in organic matter.
If rubbing a handful of soil from your garden crumbles very quickly, it means your soil is sandy.
This type of soil has the advantage of being very easy to work with and, given its light consistency, contains a lot of oxygen, a precious ally for vegetables.
On the downside, sandy soil dries out very quickly, so especially in the hottest periods, it is at greater risk of drought and will require more frequent watering.
To cultivate this type of soil, you will need to frequently fertilize with manure, compost, pelleted manure and organic fertilizers.
The main varieties of vegetable plants that you can cultivate in sandy soil, with the appropriate improvements, are: garlic, onion, pepper, shallot, tomato, eggplant, carrot, watermelon, potato, fennel, and broad bean.
3. Silty soil: add organic matter
Silty soil gets its name from silt, a very fertile and granular mud of which it is composed of at least 50%.
Since the times of the ancient Egyptians, silt has been recognized for its fertilizing properties but, if in excess, it makes the soil compact and difficult to work.
The granules, wrapping around the roots, make it difficult for them to breathe and can cause water stagnation.
This type of soil leaves whitish residues similar to talcum powder on the hands and in the case of heavy summer storms, when it can wet and dry quickly, tends to form a surface crust.
Silty soil is therefore suitable for cultivating vegetable plants as long as you add organic matter and - if necessary - sand to make its structure more suitable for working.
The varieties that best adapt to this type of soil are: chicories, radicchio, beets, and broad beans.
4. Calcareous soil: ideal for cabbages and cauliflowers
Calcareous soil contains at least 20% lime, which makes it quite white, loose, and powdery and not very suitable for retaining organic matter.
It is a challenging soil for cultivating a garden because, having a very basic pH, it is not suitable for most vegetable plants that prefer an acidic or neutral pH.
If your soil is very light and compacts when it rains, it is probably calcareous.
At this point, you can intervene by incorporating manure to make the pH more acidic and to provide the plants with the organic matter that this soil lacks, and peat soil to have the right consistency for working.
In the case of particularly compact soil, we recommend adding sand as well.
Calcareous soil is ideal for cabbages and cauliflowers that fear an acidic pH and for aromatic vegetable seedlings like thyme and rosemary.
If the soil is not too dry, melons, leeks, and artichokes are also welcome.
Properly enriched with organic substances, calcareous soil can also beneficially host garlic, carrots, beets, radishes, parsnips, beans, peas, lentils, tomatoes, lettuce, and sunchokes.
5. Clayey soil: how to improve it
Clayey soil is probably one of the least suitable for cultivating vegetable plants.
So if you find yourself facing this type of soil, you will have to face some extra obstacles.
If the clods of your garden are very difficult to break, contain few roots and insects, and during dry periods the surface of the soil cracks, arm yourself with patience and good will because you will have to deal with a challenging clayey soil.
This type of soil, while rich in nutrients, is heavy and suffocates the roots of plants as well as retaining water, causing insidious water stagnation.
The good news is that clayey soil can also be improved.
Add organic material like manure, universal organic soil, peat, compost, but also inorganic materials like sand (better if mixed with gravel), ash, and agricultural gypsum.
You will need to bury these materials not too deeply after tilling the soil.
Ask for advice from your trusted retailer on the choice of the most suitable products and how to incorporate them into your soil.
As for the varieties to cultivate, clayey soil is similar to silty soil, but once worked as described above, you can enrich your garden with many other varieties.
6. Loamy soil: the best type for vegetable plants
As the name suggests, loamy soil has intermediate characteristics where, unlike other types, it contains all the components (about 50-70% sand, 25-40% silt, 5-15% clay, and 2% humus).
This type of soil, usually of alluvial origin, is the most widespread and the best for hosting vegetable seedlings. In this case, what you will need to evaluate when choosing your crops are the characteristics of your climatic zone.
To know which vegetable plants to cultivate based on your climatic region, consulting the garden calendar can help you where you will find useful information for sowing, transplanting, and harvesting for each area of Italy.
Loamy soil can retain moisture, avoiding water stagnation, and is rich in organic and nutritious substances.
Being soft, the roots can sink and do not run the risk of being suffocated, as in the case of clayey soil, in case of rain.
If your soil is soft, moist, and the clods break easily between your fingers, it is loamy.
The important thing will be to fertilize it periodically and use mulching to protect the plants from weeds and to maintain the right temperature of the uppermost part of the roots.
How to make the soil soft to host vegetable plants
Even the most hostile soils can be improved with effort and by using the right products.
To achieve good results, you will also need to pay attention to choosing the most suitable tools and equipment for working the soil.
The soil should be worked in autumn/winter (except in very cold areas subject to frost). Here are some tips:
- Start by removing stones, weeds, and superficial roots
- Work the soil with the spade, sinking it about 20-30 cm and turning it over to create clods
- Fertilize using natural organic materials such as manure, compost, and fireplace ash.
At the end of winter, hoe the soil to break the clods and make the top 10-20 cm of soil fine and soft.
4 Vegetable plants suitable for all types of soil
If you are a beginner or if you have little time, you will probably prefer to buy ready-made seedlings from a nursery rather than growing them from seeds in a seedbed.
However, you will need to pay attention when choosing your plants because buying a quality product is essential for the success of your crops.
The plants must be healthy, robust, and also ready for transplanting. If the plant has been kept too long in the seedbed (and therefore kept for too long in a small space without the necessary nutrients), it may survive poorly or not at all after transplanting.
Therefore, avoid purchasing plants where you see many roots, perhaps twisted because it may be too late to transplant them. Prefer younger seedlings, but that are at the right stage for transplanting.
Also, check that the leaves at the base of the plants are not yellowing or dry.
The leaves should not be perforated because this could be an indicator of pests, and the root ball should not show mold or a bad smell.
Also check that the leaves at the base of the plants are not yellowing or dry. The leaves should not be perforated because this could be an indicator of pests, and the root ball should not show mold or a bad smell.
Now that you know how to choose your plants, let's see what the characteristics and needs of some of the most popular varieties in our gardens are.
How to grow tomatoes: water, fertilize, and support
Tomatoes are one of the most popular crops among gardening enthusiasts because they are used on our tables both raw and as a base for many preparations. Just think of sauces, from simple tomato pasta to more elaborate ones.
Here’s what you need to know if you want to grow tomatoes:
- You can grow them in any region of Italy as long as your garden or balcony has an excellent sun exposure
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It fears frost although very resistant F1 varieties have been developed
- It fears drought: water frequently and use mulching to ensure the right temperature for the roots
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It is greedy for organic matter. Fertilize abundantly during the soil preparation phase, with manure, mature compost, or water-soluble fertilizer
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Transplant at a distance of 100 cm between rows and 40 cm in the row
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Crops to pair with tomatoes, because they can help each other by exchanging nutrients, are parsley, lettuce, celery, and peas
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The minimum temperatures must be at least 10 degrees
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Provide supports and stakes to tie the plant, such as bamboo canes, to allow it to grow tall and not fall under the weight of the fruits
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In spring, around May, perform the “suckering” of the tomatoes that is, remove the suckers (the axillary shoots that form between the stem and the productive branches) which are the unproductive part of the plant
- If you are growing on a balcony, use pots of 40-50 cm in diameter x 30-40 cm in height
As you can see, growing tomatoes requires a series of precautions, but the final result, in terms of taste and quality, will reward you for all the effort.
How to transplant lettuces: leave ⅓ of the cube above the soil
Lettuces, particularly the romaine variety, are resilient plants that can adapt to different climatic conditions.
Here’s what you need to know if you want to grow seedlings of salad and lettuce:
- The optimal temperature for its growth is 15-20°C but it also withstands cold well. If your climate is not particularly harsh, you can grow it in the open field as early as late winter (except in regions with particularly harsh climates) until autumn
- The romaine variety is very sensitive to heat. So if you live in an area where temperatures reach high peaks, grow it in autumn and early spring.
- Grow in partial shade that is, with half a day of sun and half in the shade, and if this is not possible, use a shading cloth
- Transplant at a distance of 40 cm between rows and 25 cm in the row leaving the soil cube above the ground for one third
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Spread soil around the cube after transplanting
- Water often but without overdoing it because lettuce fears water stagnation
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The “friendly” plants of lettuce are onion, radish, and tomato
- If you are growing on a balcony, use pots 50 centimeters wide and 25 centimeters high and transplant the plants in a slightly staggered manner to avoid them bothering each other as they grow.
Whatever your favorite variety, you will be able to enjoy a fresh and natural product that has nothing to do with the lettuces you find on the market.
How to grow zucchini in the garden: space and mild climate
Another great classic that cannot be missing from the home garden.
What you need to know if you want to grow zucchini:
- They fear frost and their ideal temperature is between 15 degrees at night and 25 during the day. Below 10 degrees, growth stops. They prefer sunny soil.
- They require many nutrients. Start preparing the soil in autumn and carry out a good base fertilization with compost or manure. Work the soil at least 10 days before transplanting
- Maintain a distance of 120 cm between rows and 80 cm in the row because zucchini require ample space
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Rotate them and not always plant them in the same bed. Wait at least 3 years before returning to plant them in the portion and alternate them with leguminous plants
- Transplant from April to May, depending on your climate, and continue throughout the summer until mid-August
- Water abundantly (preferably in the early morning) with room temperature water, avoiding wetting the leaves and being careful of water stagnation
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Useful associations for zucchini are with lettuce, radish, and spinach
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If you are growing on a balcony, use pots of at least 50/60 cm in diameter and 40/50 cm in height and prefer a good soil enriched with compost. Water often but without overdoing it in quantity
You can use the freshest zucchini even raw to enrich your salads.
How to grow aromatic herbs, easy and useful for the garden
If you are a beginner, choose aromatic vegetable seedlings, which are the ideal cultivation to start as they are easy to grow both in the field and in pots.
What you need to know if you want to grow them:
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They adapt to any type of climate and soil and are resistant to pests and diseases
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They do not have great fertilization needs, especially perennial species, that is, those that last from year to year like sage, thyme, and rosemary that remain evergreen even in winter
- Do not be deceived by some perennial varieties, such as chives and mint, which seem to die in winter but will come back to life again in spring
- Annual aromatic plants, like basil and parsley, do not survive the cold and you will need to replant them every year
- You can place aromatic plants in dedicated beds or scattered throughout the garden among other vegetables that will benefit from their presence both in terms of flavor and for natural pest protection
- They do not require much space and are therefore perfect even if you are growing on a balcony
- Some herbs, like sage, mint, and basil, should be consumed fresh while others, such as oregano, are better suited to being dried.
Using aromatic herbs to flavor your dishes is useful to limit salt consumption without sacrificing taste.
Choose a reliable retailer
In this article, we have seen how crucial it is for the success of your garden that the soil has the right characteristics and how you can improve it through targeted operations and adequate fertilization, should the starting conditions not be optimal.
You now also know that there are indicators that can guide you in purchasing from a nursery to help you understand if the seedlings have the right characteristics for transplanting.
Choosing a reliable retailer is the first guarantee of bringing a quality product into your garden.
Millstore offers you the opportunity to choose from over 150 varieties of vegetable seedlings, which you can receive directly at your home healthy and fresh, thanks to secure packaging specifically designed.
If they arrive damaged, Millstore will send you new plants or always refund you.
What are you waiting for? The fantastic world of gardening awaits you.