Helpful hints Starting your own Vegetable Garden
Starting a Vegetable Garden Treat yourself to fresh, home-grown vegetables and herbs
If you live in an apartment or town house, you probably think you don’t have the space to grow and supply your own vegies.
Well lack of space is no longer an issue as new breeding has developed varieties ideally suited for growing in vertical containers on a sunny window ledge or patio. This enables us to grow salad vegetables and herbs in almost any area within your home where there is sun so you can enjoy fresh home-grown ingredients all year round.
From the traditional backyard garden to your patio stacker pots we'll help you to get started.
Good vegetable gardening Do little but to do it often
A big area isn’t necessary for a successful vegetable garden, but a good site is.
The key criteria for a good site are:
- A minimimum of 6 hours sunshine
- Protection from frost and wind
- Adequate rainfall
- Good irrigation
- A flat site with good drainage and nutritious soil
Using raised beds also lengthens the season as the soil warms earlier and stays warm later through the shorter days and also minimises weeds. This will improve yields and plant health.
For preparing our Autumn Vegie Garden the following points need to be addressed:
- Work out your growing area and how many plants with spacings you can maintain. For example, for Lettuce you should allow 60cm, while for Pumpkin you should allow 120cm. Check plant labels for recommended spacings.
- Before you prepare beds and purchase seedlings, know your season and what grows best in those conditions in your local area. Check plant labels for spacing widths and cultural tips, or ask your local nursery or garden centre what they suggest will do well.
- Select varieties that will grow quickly and are tolerant of cooler weather conditions and shorter days. Choose healthy and vigorous seedlings, that stand up straight and are stocky, not lanky, for example Lettuce, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Peas, Cauliflowers and Carrots.
- Prepare raised beds, loosening soil with a garden fork (reduces tilling/cultivating) and remove any weeds, garden litter or remains from summers harvest. Now the soil crust is loosened and broken up, add 3 inches of organic mulch before any planting to enrich soil.
- Autumn is all about timing the plantings before any cold conditions arrive. Remember it is better to be too early than too late (crops slow down significantly). Always record what crops planted and when, and how long to harvest. Soon you will have your planting schedules down pat.
Starting Container Vegetables Great varieties you can grow on the patio
Whether it be in the patio or the annex of a small apartment we can still grow and maintain a great vegie smorgasboard.
The benefits are of Container Vegetables are easy access to the kitchen, a safer environments for children and handicapped, you don’t need a yard, easier water maintenance and an extremely attractive and dual purpose of style and function.
For container gardening the following tips are beneficial:
- Choice of container - go to your local nursery or garden/living centre and pick containers that suit your fancy. From hangers to 500ml bowls, terracotta, ceramic, plastic, wood or clay, there's sure to be something that takes your fancy and matches with your home.
- Start with strong vigorous plants from seedlings of around 4 inches in height as these add instant success to any above ground container. The container must be large enough to contain the fully grown plants (size of plant varies depending on variety - please read plant labels). For example, most Tomatoes will need an 18 inch container, capsicums however need smaller.
- Cover the holes and the bottom of container (inside) with small rocks to improve soil drainage.
- Part fill the container with compost. A slow release fertilizer can be added at this stage (will distribute evenly over time). Fill the remaining space with a nutrient rich planting media.
- It is also important that a mulch is put on top of container. This slows evaporation and keeps the surface temperature of the soil cooler. Plants like tomatoes have small, fibrous roots which will dry and die in hot sun.
- Water the plants and let them drain. Take them out of existing pots or punnets and arrange in container, packing in tightly. Fill any gaps and gently firm plants in place. Keep soil below the rim of the pot for easier watering.
- Think about the best way to irrigate. Will it be drippers on timers, watering can, spray nozzle, capillary troughs, saucers or a garden restrictor nozzle? Your plants will need water every 2-3 days plus regular fertilizing as they develop.
- Water the container well and move to its final position. Arrange according to plant needs. Tomatoes prefer facing south with full sun, whilst spinach and lettuce are happier closer to the house with partial shade. All will need at least 6 hrs sunlight every day.
- Trellises, cages or poles will be needed for tomatoes, cucumbers, beans etc. Why not utilize permanent features such as fences, railings and lattices to support plants. Regular maintenance may be needed to keep plants growing vertically and healthy, for example, you may have to trim side shoots on tomatoes so fruit are not going down to the ground.
- Most of all with a little time and imagination you can change any drab patio into an array of lush green vines, with a wide range of coloured beets, lettuces, juicy tomatoes, succulent cucumbers, red peppers, and mouth-watering herbs.
Why not start today? Enjoy fresh home-grown vegetables soon
Autumn is the perfect time to start your own vegie garden and Pohlmans Hidden Valley Herbs and Gourmet Vegetables are the perfect planting choice.
