GROW YOUR OWN: Gardening expert Reg Kidd with a raised garden bed that is an option for finding space to grow vegetables. Photo: JUDE KEOGH
Your own home-grown vegetables taste much better than any you buy in the shops says gardening expert Reg Kidd.
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Cr Kidd said fruiting vegetables like beans, tomatoes, capsicum and sweet corn taste best if eaten as quickly as possible after harvesting.
Leafy vegetables, like lettuce, lose their water and become limp in storage.
He said all vegetables were best eaten when they are as fresh as possible.
WHEN TO GROW
- Vegetables can be loosely grouped according to their growing season.
- Cool season vegetables grow best when temperatures are between 10-20 degrees or even lower. They include broad beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower onion, peas, spinach and turnips.
- Intermediate season vegetables grow best between 15-25 degrees. They include beetroot, carrot, parsnip, celery, leek, lettuce, radish and silverbeet.
- Warm season vegetables grow best above 20 degrees.
- They include beans, capsicum, eggplant, potato, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, cucumbers, pumpkin and zucchini.
CULTIVATION
- Vegetables must have sun.
- Select a garden position that has sun for most of the day, is sheltered and is close to a source of water.
- Vegetables can be grown in potting mix or hydroponically but the most common method is good garden soil.
- Soil must have good drainage and structure.
- Regular adding quality compost, such as old garden matter, will improve soil quality.
NUTRIENTS
- Mineral fertilisers are a reliable source of good quantities of nutrients.
- Mixes with a balanced NPK ratio are suited to a wide range of crops.
- Balanced, all purpose fertilisers like Gro-Plus Complete, can be mixed with the soil before planting.
- Soluble fertilisers like Thrive or Aquasol can be applied in liquid form during the vegetables' growing phase.
- Organic fertilisers, made from living material that has decayed are excellent for improving soil but their nutrient levels can be unreliable as they can be high in nitrogen.
- Additional dressings of sulphate of potash or superphosphate may be necessary.
DON'T FORGET
- PH levels. Vegetables grow best if the PH levels is between 6.0-7.0. That means you may need to add lime before planting.
- Mulching, preferably an organic mulch, will help retain moisture, suppress weeds, limit temperature fluctuations and stop soil crusting.
- Watering, we are now on Level 2 restrictions in Orange, is best done thoroughly, so the root systems receive water. Soil wetters and moisture retainers are also handy.
- Rotate crops to prevent soil disease. Don't have the same vegetables in the same spot every year.
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