Growing Vegetables

We have just had a new delivery of Veg Plants

31.03.21

Most veggies, especially those that bear fruit (cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers etc) need plenty of sunshine to grow. Ideally, you want your vegetable patch to be positioned where it will get roughly 6-8 hour s a day.  you can still grow some edibles; mainly leafy crops and herbs.

In shadier spots you can still grow vegetables but are more suited for leafier crops and herbs.

The best soil suitable for vegetables includes lots of compost and organic matter such as composted leaves and ground or shredded, aged bark. Whatever you’re starting with, incorporate enough organic material so that the amended soil is neither sandy nor compacted.

A smaller vegetable patch is ideal for a starter vegetable garden, A size roughly 4 x 8 foot will give you enough space to grow a variety of crops. If you haven’t got a lot of space try planting container friendly plants and herbs in pots or window-boxes.

It’s tempting to try and grow everything but don’t forget to think about the space you have. Trying to squeeze too much into your vegetable patch is asking for trouble and you’ll end up with a smaller, not larger harvest. However, you can boost yield by succession planting. When your initial crops have been harvested, follow up with a second sowing. For example, follow spring lettuce with summer beans. Succession planting allows you to stretch your harvest season for the longest possible time.

This might be hard to believe, but a lot of bugs can be your friends. Such things as bees, ladybugs, butterflies, and more! To attract these good guys to your garden – and boost crop pollination – include clumps of insect-friendly plants like, cosmos, and sunflowers between the vegetables and herbs.

Make sure you water your newly planted vegetables beds frequently, to conserve water and reduce the need to irrigate, mulch your soil with several inches of straw or shredded leaves.

Quick growing crops like lettuce and radishes won’t need supplemental fertilizers if grown in in fertile soil. Long-term veggies like tomatoes etc will appreciate a boost several times over the growing season.

Our fertiliser and feed can be found here Fertilisers & Feed (gordonrigg.com)