Veggie Garden
Grow your winter produce
There are few things in life as satisfying as growing your own food – the joy of picking your first broccoli, or sharing your harvest with people you love is a wonderful experience. I get quite attached to my plants, nurturing them from their tiny beginnings, keeping them watered, fed and safe from the dreaded caterpillar; it feels a little like parenting but rather more peaceful. You don’t need a great deal of space to grow your own veggies; even the smallest garden can produce a surprisingly generous bounty.
With more people wanting to know where their food comes from, the home vegetable garden provides an opportunity to be a part of this process from beginning to end. Children, especially, like to help and you’ll find that all involved will come to treasure the time spent in the garden. The constant supply of fresh produce will become almost an added bonus to the quality time you spend doing something positive and meaningful.
Envisioning your garden brimming with all sorts of delicious things will help motivate you to get started. Make a list of what you want to grow, and bear in mind you don’t have to stick to vegetables. Your vegetable garden will benefit from the addition of flowers and herbs (known as ‘companion planting’, see below). When choosing what type of garden you want to create, consider how much time you will have to spend in it, as well as what will be practical for the amount of space you have. If you don’t have room for garden beds, there are plenty of options for smaller-scale growing. Whether you are planning to plant in garden beds, pots, hanging baskets, or an old bath tub, you will need the same fundamentals: nutrient-rich soil, plenty of sunshine, shelter and water.
Tips for great growing
· Rotate your crops each season This allows the mineral balance to be maintained, reduces disease and makes better use of organic matter.
· Companion planting This is when you grow certain plants together so that they benefit one another by giving protection against insects and improving plant growth and flavour. Cauliflower and beans grow well together, for example, as beans release nitrogen into the soil, which cauliflower needs plenty of. Broccoli and rosemary do well together as rosemary repels cabbage fly. Lavender benefits most vegetables, being a general insect repellent. Silverbeet does particularly well planted near lavender.
· Start a compost bin Your garden will love you for it. It’s a great way of reusing your kitchen and garden waste and keeping the cycle of life going, as well as reducing landfill, which is made up of more than 50 per cent compostable matter. It will save you money too, as well-tended compost is a valuable plant food and should be the primary source of nutrients for your garden. · Don’t become discouraged if things don’t always go to plan, a garden is a living entity that is changing continually.
What to plant now
During the winter season there are slightly fewer growing options, however there are still a good number of edibles available as seedlings. All of the following are suitable for planting in larger garden beds. If you are planting in pots, choose vegetables with a shallow root system.
· Broccoli · Cauliflower · Cabbage · Silverbeet · Spinach · Rocket (sow seeds directly into garden) · Radishes (as above) · Leeks (larger garden) · Onions (as above) · Perennial herbs · Broad beans · Kale
Warmer climates
· Asian greens · Spring onions · Potatoes · Lettuces
What you will need
Soil/Potting mix, Compost, Fertiliser (sheep pellets/animal manure), Liquid fertiliser (seaweed/fish), Mulch (hay/pea straw), Seedlings and/or seeds.
Looking after your garden
· To avoid weeds, plant your veggies close together and use a mulch
· Apply a liquid fertiliser every 3-4 weeks during the winter months
· In cooler climates use frost cloths to protect frost-sensitive plants
· Keep plants well watered.