5 easy vegies to grow now

Growing food is fun and satisfying, and these easy edibles are great to try, says PHIL DUDMAN

Even non-gardeners feel an urge to plant something in spring. If you’re new to gardening, or just looking for some low-fuss edibles to plant right now, here are some to try.

Loose-leaf lettuce Crisp and delicious, loose-leaf lettuce is perfect for small spaces, filling gaps in beds or piling into pots. It’s quick growing, providing a picking of outer leaves in 3–4 weeks. Water well, liquid-fertilise fortnightly and harvest regularly.

Radish This is quick off the mark and quick to the plate. Radish seeds germinate within a few days and the plants can be harvested in 6–8 weeks. Sow seed in spaces between slower plants, or in shallow pots filled with premium potting mix. Feed and water well, then pick the radishes minutes before serving for maximum crunch.

Pumpkin While they don’t ask for much, pumpkins do demand space to grow… and then some! Where space is at a premium, train vigorous vines over a frame, pergola or arbor, or let them ramble among fruit trees. Alternatively, grow compact varieties such as Golden Nugget, Baby Blue or Delicata Mini Sweet Bush.

Cherry tomato These are far less fussy than most of the slicing tomato types. You can get away with ignoring cherry tomatoes – no training, pruning or feeding – and you’ll still get a good crop. But if you guide the vines onto a frame, tidy up ratty foliage, and water and feed them, you’ll have enough tomatoes for a batch of passata!

Pak choy Put in a dozen plants now and another in a month or so and you’ll always have plenty of pak choy on hand for that last-minute stir-fry. Seedlings are available but seeds germinate readily, so grab a pack to save time and money. As temperatures rise, cover crops with shadecloth and water regularly to reduce plant stress.