Depending on how the produce is produced and used, there are several different types of vegetable gardening. Thompson and Kelly proposed the widely accepted and utilised division of sorts of vegetable gardens.
I. Home or Kitchen garden/Nutrition garden:
In the regions close to the house, vegetables are produced for the family’s fresh supply in the kitchen. The primary goal of a kitchen or backyard garden is to supply the family’s daily needs of fresh vegetables that are high in nutrients and energy. Throughout the year, a variety of vegetables must be available in more or less constant supply, depending on the season. Additionally, it offers entertainment and fitness, particularly for women. In addition to all of these benefits, a home garden may save family expenses and raise living standards.
Cropping pattern of kitchen/nutrition garden
| Plot No. | Vegetables and period | Vegetables and period | Vegetables and period |
| 1 | Cabbage (October-February) | Cowpea (March- June) | Fenugreek (August- September) |
| 2 | Okra (September –December) | French bean (January -March) | Carrot ( June –July) |
| 3 | Chilli (June-May) | Garlic (june-December) | Radish ( June-July) |
| 4 | Peas ( September – November) | Tomato ( December –March) | Okra ( April –June) |
| 5 | Carrot (September –November) | French bean (December -April) | Cucumber (May –July) |
| 6 | Capsicum(September –December) | French bean (January -April) | Cucumber (May –August) |
| 7 | Beet root( September –December) | Cabbage (December –March) | Cluster bean (April –July) |
| 8 | Potato (November- February) | Amaranthus (November –April) | Cowpea (May –April) |
| 9 | Sweet potato(August –September) | Brinjal ( January -February) | Carrot ( June –July) |
| 10 | Palak ( September –November) | Capsicum( January – February) | Radish ( June –August) |
Types of kitchen garden
a) Home garden having fruits and vegetables
b) Home garden having only vegetables
Kitchen gardens vary according to the size of the residential plot.
Eg: 1) Large size kitchen garden
2) Medium size kitchen garden
3) Small size kitchen garden
4) Terrace garden: In cities/towns where only little space is available, one can grow vegetables in the pots, drums and other containers placed on terrace or roof.
II. Commercial vegetable gardening:
The vegetables are grown on large scale for sale in the market. This is further divided into following types.
i) Market gardening
ii) Truck gardening
iii) Vegetable forcing
iv)Vegetable growing for processing
Canning
Freezing
Dehydration
Pickling and fermentation
Vegetable seed production
v) Vegetable seed production garden
Market gardening
The main objective of market gardening is to produce vegetables for the local market. At present due to development of transport facilities, growers are sending their produce even to distant markets where prices are more attractive and profitable. Now vegetables are brought to the mandies from distant villages by trucks. Timely and proper irrigation facilities, good seed, enough nutrition, abundant labour supply and easy transportation facilities are essential for market gardening.
The places where market garden is practiced, the land value is very high. So it becomes necessary to secure large returns per acre to realize some profit on the investment. For market gardening, crops like peas, cauliflower, cucumber, tomato, chillies, onion etc., are grown.
III. Truck gardening
It is the method of growing special vegetable crops in relatively larger quantities for distant markets by the employing of extensive methods. In this method of gardening, in general more extensive and less intensive method of cultivation than market gardening is followed.
In recent years the development of national highways and efficient motor truck facilities have improved this gardening considerably. The main feature of truck garden is given below.
a) Such farms are located far away from the centre of consumption preferably by the side of rail route or metallic roads.
b) Price of land and labour is comparatively lower
c) Only few crops of semi perishable nature are grown on large area. Eg: Onion, Green chillies.
d) Cost of transportation is high.
e) Mechanization is followed partly or wholly.
f) The cost of cultivation is less.
III. Floating garden
The veggies are grown in water on a floating foundation that resembles a boat in this kind of farming. In the Kashmir valley’s Dal Lake, one may view these floating gardens. This style of gardening is possible in places where the land is buried under water. The roots of typha grass or any other material comparable to it are used to create floating bases. Seedlings are transplanted on leaf compost prepared from the nearby plants while the floating foundation is kept submerged in water. Boats can be used for cross-cultural activities depending on the crop’s needs. From Dal Lake, Srinagar receives the majority of the veggies grown throughout the summer.
