Here’s how you can have a sustainable source of fresh food and veggies on your fishing boat, especially if you are travelling long distances. It’s also good for you if you keep constantly moving on a boathouse. There are endless options for you if you need planters for your vegetables. As you read, you will see some of the examples I have mentioned in this article.
Since you are travelling and have access to fish and other seafood, having freshly grown herbs and vegetables will make your day.
Fantastic fresh vegetable supply on your boat is relatively simple
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Growing plants and vegetables on your boat is a great option. Having just potted plants is not the only way. You can customise and utilise the space in the maximum possible way.
Boats that are suitable for growing plants & vegetables
Generally, these are houseboats. They are either long enough, more stable and wide. I have seen even usually boats that have wider hulls are great. Any boat with an open space to stand, walk around, and fish can be used to grow plants on it.
Which vegetables to choose for your boat garden?
- ginger
- garlic
- carrots
- cucumber
- cabbage
- sweet pepper
- broccoli
- parsley
- peas
- onions
- potatoes
- raddish
- basil
- methi/cress
- pumpkins
- beatroot
- spinach
- leeks
- squash
- rocket
- Parsnips
- tomatoes
- chilli
- Asparagus
- lettuce
Which edible plants or herbs can be grown in your boat garden?
When you have started to grow your herb garden, this is what you need. Since boats do not have enough space, these can help. All you need is to find crop combinations that can grow in a vertical or wall climbing position. Having them will allow you to grow more and still have plenty of space for other valuable plants.
Will these vegetables grow on a boat that is constantly moving?
Yes, that is possible. These plants require their own space. Make sure those plants are covered with plastic and make a greenhouse kind of environment to grow properly. If your boat has solar panels, tidal generator, and water turbine generator, and constant energy supply, then that’s wonderful.
Movement should not affect their growth because there is also a constant breeze in the open areas on land. It means you should select your veggies carefully.
What can affect their growth on a boat?
Sudden changes in the weather, water condition & Predators can be some of the factors affecting their growth. Certain plants can still tolerate the weather, but some can go into shock. If you are constantly on board would not make any difference as long as you are in the warm or cold or rainy climate. If you are moving around in those conditions, it should not make much of a difference. However, you may find some of the plants that may get affected and could wither away from time to time. Birds could be a nuisance to your plants and damage them if you are much closer to the coast or in a river.
Which vegetable can be grown in winter?
The following vegetables can be grown in the winters. However, to each of them, it would depend on how harsh the winter is, and we know that the sea doesn’t freeze the way lakes do so that you can relax.
- Leafy green vegetables.
- Spinach
- Leeks
- Broccoli
- Lettuce
- Peas
- Miners lettuce
- Mache
- Portuguese kale
- Snow peas
List of 25 vegetables you can grow on you boat garden
Boat planters are readily available.
Pumpkins of October and November are good enough, and for them, you can use a fence like wooden climbers. You may use different netting on your boat if you have space. The one below gives you an idea of growing some of the vegetables that grow as creeper
The only time when you would need to be a bit cautious is when you do not have enough space on your boat. If the weather is stormy, it is not good to have hanging potted plants in your boat. For that reason, in a nice open space, if you can create a green house kind of area, you can easily grow them, avoiding heaving wind. Having such a boat garden can make a lot more difference than having nothing and relying simply on canned foods.
Which of these vegetables require summer?
The summer vegetables I mentioned here may be different from the summers in the eastern regions. South, Middle Eastern or Mediterranean climate summer vegetables are different from those that grow here in the UK or Europe.
You may be able to get an idea at least which of these you can carry with you to grow. Some of these require you to dig a little more, but many don’t. Depending on the kind of boat
Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers & onions are some of the many that do need more sunlight. However, being in the open sea or river, it could still be an option to choose for many of us as there’s plenty of open space and bright light.
