By Umar Nsubuga
Setting up a vegetable garden in your backyard is one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to ensure you have a steady supply of fresh, nutritious vegetables.
Whether you live in an urban setting with limited space or have a spacious yard, growing your own vegetables can be an easy and cost-effective step towards a healthier lifestyle.
Vegetables like spinach, cabbage, carrots, and tomatoes are highly recommended by dieticians for daily consumption due to their rich nutritional value.
A home garden allows you to enjoy these fresh, organic vegetables year-round, regardless of the season.
The beauty of backyard gardening is its flexibility. You don’t need a large plot of land, fancy equipment, or advanced knowledge to get started.
Even a neglected corner in your yard can be transformed into a thriving raised bed garden with just a hoe and some enthusiasm. For those in apartment buildings or houses with limited outdoor space, sack gardening on the balcony offers an innovative and space-efficient solution.
Take, for example, Joseph Bukenya, a resident of Kabuwomero in Luwero district.
Bukenya lives in a modest two-room house on a small plot measuring just 100ft by 50ft.
Despite the small size, he has turned his compound into a lush vegetable garden that not only provides food for his household but also serves as a model garden for his neighbours.
How to get started
Benon Kisomose, an agronomist, says that starting a vegetable garden is easier than you think. The first step is to create a nursery bed for your chosen vegetables.
“This can be done using simple containers like an old jerrycan split in half or an unused basin. Fill the container with loamy soil mixed with compost manure, which provides essential nutrients for the seedlings,” he says.
Next, he explains that buy vegetable seeds, which can cost between sh500 and sh2,000 per sachet, and plant them in the nursery according to the instructions on the seed packet. Once the seedlings are ready for transplanting, they can be moved to a raised bed or sack garden, depending on your available space.
“For a sack garden, a clever option for those with limited space, Bukenya advises inserting a pole in the middle of the sack and filling it with a mixture of loam soil and compost,” he advises.
Place fist-sized stones inside the sack to help keep it upright and to ensure proper aeration. Holes should be made on the sides of the sack to plant the seedlings.
During the dry season, Kisomose says sack gardens require daily watering, but two litres of water per sack is generally enough.
Kisomose emphasizes the importance of keeping the area clean and weed-free to prevent pests from damaging the vegetables.
He explains that If a plant shows signs of disease, it’s best to remove it immediately to prevent it from spreading. While chemical sprays can be used, they should be a last resort. Organic treatments are a healthier option for both you and the environment.
“Once you harvest the vegetables, the same sack can be reused to grow more crops. If the soil quality deteriorates, simply mix it with fresh manure and continue planting,” he states.
With a little effort and minimal resources, you can enjoy fresh, organic vegetables daily, right from your own backyard or balcony.
