Home-grown fruit and vegetables mean tasty, fresh food which is chemical-free, cheaply produced. Vegetable gardening is good. And especially in summer gardening is fun too and can provide healthy, outdoor exercise. Here are some gardening tips for beginning your own fruit and vegetable plot.
You can grow food in window boxes, but a garden plot is ideal. Position is important. Fruit and vegetables need sun, water, and feeding. So, try to pick a site with full sun, at least from March to November. Avoid planting next to trees or tall hedges, as these suck all moisture and nourishment from the soil and restrict sunlight. However, shelter from strong winds is necessary, so low hedges, or shrubs, make useful windbreaks. Daily watering is vital, especially in summer.
The plot needs clearing. Chemicals like glyphosphate kill most weeds, but contaminate soil. A safe, effective method is to deep-dig, pulling out all weeds and roots by hand. Weeds should be burnt, not composted. The soil then needs working and feeding. Use a pH testing kit to establish the soil composition and type of nourishment required. Digging in well-rotted compost or manure does wonders, but is unsuitable for some vegetables – check varieties first. Then, rake the soil to a fine tilth, ready for planting.
Plant a mixture of fast and slow growing produce, and plan a three-year rotation. Stagger planting to avoid gluts. For faster results, buy part-grown seedlings. These can be purchased cheaply from local markets, car boot sales, summer fetes, and neighbours.
