There is certainly something definitely wonderful about growing a small seedling, seeing it mature into a healthy plant and then harvesting the produce in order to feed your household. The sense of achievement and satisfaction will certainly leave you beaming, and hopefully those around you, too.
Indeed, you’ve got to put in a certain amount of work, nevertheless the returns are worthwhile – you realize you’ll be outside in the fresh air, when you find yourself getting some exercise, you will be grasping something new and also savoring food that has been grown just like you like it to be.
However, if the whole thought of growing your own is attractive but would seem to be a little tricky, it needn’t be. Once you’ve got your ground prepared, grab yourself several seeds and you will soon be savoring tasty home-grown fruit and veg, and asking yourself why you didn’t start years ago.
Starting out Assuming you are already fortunate enough to own your own plot, be it a council-run allotment or a plant area within your garden, then besides having a few basic bits of equipment, all you’ll need to get things rolling is good old-fashioned hard work – and some favorable weather conditions wouldn’t go amiss, either!
But before you go hurrying off with fork in hand, it is important to have a very good planting plan, even if it’s only provisional, particularly when you’re a new comer to this ‘growing your own’ game. You will need to have an idea of what you need to grow (make sure you select stuff you know the family will actually eat) and the whats and wherefores of how to do it. Keep it simple to start with and when you’ve tasted success, move on to more ambitious crops and add fruit and veg you fancy growing instead of merely sticking to the more standard types. Follow recommendations on the back of the seed packet for individual planting conditions.
Ideal plot Chances are you’ll need to prepare the ground before you begin planting. If you put in the groundwork now, you’ll most certainly enjoy the benefits, so as you get down to digging, think of the pleasure you’ll get when you are tucking into your own fresh produce. The most important job is to get rid of the weeds as they’ll be fighting your fruit and veg for water, nutrients and space. It’s best to dig them out by hand, getting as much of the root out as possible, as using a rotavator simply chops up the roots. For annual weeds, this doesn’t cause a problem, but for perennial weeds like dandelions, each piece of root can make a new plant, so instead of getting rid of them, you’re just making more!
Once you’ve dug the plot over and got rid of as many weeds as possible, it’s worth adding some well-rotted compost to improve the condition of the soil – this will not only boost the structure but give your seeds and plants a head start. It’s also a good idea to apply a fertiliser to increase the nutrient content for your hungry soon-to-be veggies. For organic gardeners, incorporate a balanced general fertiliser such as blood, fish and bones about two weeks before you sow any seeds, and for traditionalists, try inorganic Growmore.
The final step to seed-ready soil is raking so you get a fine, crumbly tilth (top layer of soil). Remove any stones and you’re all set. Happy sowing and growing!
This article has been written by the author, Tiens. Should you require any moregarlic and high blood pressureplease visit his garlic blood pressure resources!
categories: growing,small seedling,mature,healthy,plant