Growing Vegetables

Growing vegetables is an important and essential part of our diet which are available from your supermarket, but cultivating your own is a rewarding activity. 

Growing vegetables is an important and essential part of our diet. These are readily available from your supermarket or greengrocer supply, but growing vegetables of your own is a rewarding activity and hobby. Growing vegetables has never been easier, thanks to research, new varieties  are producing higher yields and are better resistant to pest and diseases.

Siting and preparation is very important. Plenty of sunlight is needed, so avoid shade from buildings  trees, etc. Protection from cold winds which can slow growth, and strong winds will damage plants. In  preparing the ground, dig in large quantities of peat, straw and rotted compost  also general garden fertilizer to enrich the soil. This helps the soil retain  balance of moistures and assists with the aereation.

Some types  we grow  will tend to mature all at one time, so to achieve  a continuous harvest limit the quantity, plan ahead and spread plantings out over 3 - 4 weeks at a time.  The next item to consider is to plan rotation of crops which reduces the spread of soil borne pests and diseases, that  can develop if not rotated. Growing  vegetables break down into three catergories, root crops such as carrots, parsnips, potato and  beetroot;- brasica crops include cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, swedes and turnips while the third group is other items like beans,  peas, leeks,  onions, silver beet /spinach, sweetcorn, tomato and other salad type varieties. These groups should be rotated over a three year cycle.  Keep a record of your three year  plan, when growing vegetables, as comitting  to   memory can be forgotten come the third year.

Fertilizing is important when growing vegetables. Use a good mix or combination of general garden fertilizer, blood and bone, containing nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, the three major nutrients. A plant grows best when all the nutrients it needs are adequately balanced. Work into the soil either around the plants or along the rows, at vital stages of growth to make up any shortage of nutrient to these growing vegetables.

Of course the only other requirement necessary is water.  During the early stages of  growth , water can be kept to a minimum increasing towards maturity and maintain sufficient during summer months. Base watering around plants is more beneficial and less damaging to growing vegetables.