Page 38 - Simply Veg 3.21

I love to travel, experience new cultures and taste exotic foods. So, with everything up in the air around Covid-19, I decided to visit Japan (Virtually) to see how they grow their vegetables.
Japanese vegetable gardens have different designs, techniques, and plants that make them unique. Japanese gardens have evolved owing to the
environment and elements
that surround them just
like our gardens have. The
plants they grow, are mixed
together to make the famous
and extremely healthy
Japanese cuisine.
and good drainage. Various Japanese trees and bamboo are usually close by and help to support various insects and wildlife that are beneficial to the garden.
Most Japanese households have three generations living under one roof making
for a full house. A full house creates lots of waste so trench composting is very common
Like most gardens the
design and location of the
vegetable plot is of the utmost importance to get the most out of the plants. Japanese gardens are positioned close to the house in locations that get the most sun. Most gardens are square and raised for deep soil
A “virtual” tour of a Japanese vegetable garden
Most gardens are square and raised for deep soil and good drainage
Japan newspaper
The Japanese have learned to live with their surroundings and do not fight it. They don’t use the idea of an instant garden but see it as more of an investment that grows over time. They use whatever is around that nature has given them to construct, maintain, and improve their vegetable gardens. In Japan, when you’re done reading the Mainichi newspaper (one of the country’s best-selling papers with 5 million
here with garden and kitchen leftovers. Like our plots, companion planting and crop rotation are used. Old carpet is used for weed cover
and water retention. Black plastic is also used for weed cover and increasing soil heat for the plants. Due to the ample amount of water
in and around the gardens, weeds can be plentiful. Weeding and weedwacking are done religiously. They even have days that the community as a whole come together for weeding!
Japanese garden
38 Simply Vegetables
RAYMOND HIGGINS FNVS