There’s nothing better than fresh vegetables, grown organically in your own garden. It’s a great way to cut down on your grocery bills and become more self-sufficient. For people without a green thumb, however, it can seem a little daunting.
So here is our step by step guide to setting up your very first veggie garden!
1. Selecting a sunny spot for your veggie patch
Most vegetables grow best when they receive at least six hours sunlight every day. If this isn’t possible then pick a spot that gets lots of morning sun, rather than the harsher afternoon sunlight.
2. Decide what vegetables you want to grow
Start with the veggies that grow best for the time of year, whether that’s spring, summer, autumn or winter. If you’re not sure which veggies to select then check at your local plant nursery because they only sell seedlings that grow well during the current season.
3. Design and create your veggie patch
If your garden doesn’t have a lovely, crumbly loam soil that’s packed with earthworms, then you might need to add organic matter to enrich it. Alternatively, you could build raised garden beds and fill them with soil and compost recommended by your local nursery.
4. Plant all your wonderful seedlings
Seedlings give you a head start on growing veggies, but make sure to loosen the soil and plant them in a small hole, rather than pushing them into the ground, as this can injure the growing roots.
5. Taking care of your growing veggies
Veggies need lots of water and appreciate organic fertilisers as well. It’s a good idea to add mulch to the surface of the soil as this reduces water evaporation and also helps to regulate the temperature of the soil.
It’s exciting to watch your veggies growing, but even better when they are ready to be picked and you can start enjoying your very own home grown, fresh veggies!