By: Caggie
The first time you step out into your garden, snip some fresh herbs, pull out a lettuce, add a tomato and a few onions, you will be hooked!
No garden is too big or too small for a vegetable patch. Even if you have no actual garden bed spaces, no problem, grow them in pots and hanging baskets.
Grow seasonal vegetables and your favorite herbs all year round. Your herbs can be grown in your kitchen for example. An inexpensive way of starting growing your own herbs in the kitchen would be to use empty food tins. Clean the tins out thoroughly. Use a white spirit to clean off any glue residue. Using a wide masking tape, wrap half the width of the tape across the top of the tin, and then fold the protruding half down into the tin. This will protect the sharp edges. Paint the tins in colours that match your kitchen. Plant your herb seedlings, such as Dill, Chives, Parsley, Coriander and Basil in compost in your tins. The herbs should then be placed where they will get some natural light. Water the compost when it is dry.
Before commencing with the planting of your vegetable seedlings, it would be preferable to purchase a book which can guide you on the seasons and sun/semi shade requirements of each particular vegetable. If you are a novice start off with only one or two vegetables, it won’t be long before you are preparing more garden beds, pots or hanging baskets!
Successful growing of the herbs and vegetables will commence with soil preparation and the correct spacing. Read instructions carefully and follow them. Always label the containers as it can be difficult to identify them as they start to grow. A regular weeding regime is an absolute necessity for a healthy vegetable crop.
Having the children interact and grow their own vegetables with you will turn this into a family fun time. Purchasing them their own equipment will encourage children to attend to the daily weeding and watering duties.
When you have your first family home grown dinner, those supermarket vegetables just will not be the same!!!
Happy eating………………….
