How to grow a bountiful harvest of vegetables this season (Image: Getty)
With the onset of spring, it’s the perfect time to start preparing to grow a bounty of vegetables this season. Harvesting fruit and veg you’ve grown yourself brings a huge sense of accomplishment.
You don’t have to be a seasoned gardener either – even first-time growers can pull the feat, assures Angharad James, product manager at Maxicrop. From sowing the first seeds to , Angharad has shared how anyone can grow “bigger, better and tastier” . So your seedlings thrive, the expert has pointed out that proper drainage is “crucial”.
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Good drainage is crucial for gardens to thrive (Image: Getty)
“Proper is crucial for vegetable growth,” said Angharad.
“If your soil tends to retain too much water, consider adding organic material such as compost or coarse sand to improve the soil’s structure. Raised beds or containers with suitable drainage holes can also be a great solution if you have heavy or clay-like soil.”
Read on for the expert’s other important jobs for vegetable gardeners to do this season.
Six essential steps to get gardens ready to grow vegetables
1. Clean up your garden space
Before planting, remove any old plants, , or debris from the previous season. This clears the space for fresh crops and prevents diseases from lingering.
Use a rake or hoe to carefully remove unwanted plants and weeds from the soil and wash out seed trays, pots and propagation items ready for sowing.
2. Test your soil
Healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving garden. Test your soil’s pH and nutrient levels to determine if it needs any amendments. You can easily purchase a soil testing kit from your local garden centre. Based on the results, add necessary fertilizers or soil conditioners like compost, lime, or organic matter.
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Seedlings sprout in just a few weeks (Image: Getty)
4. Plan your layout
Carefully plan where you will plant your vegetables. Consider the amount of sunlight each plant needs and space requirements. Crop rotation is important to prevent soil depletion, so try not to plant the same family of vegetables in the same area every year.
4. Sowing
The technique of sowing seeds depends on which vegetables you want to grow.
Some vegetables, such as parsnips and carrots, are sown outdoors in their final positions. Others, like tomatoes, peppers, and herbs are sown under cover or indoors for potting on and planting out in spring.
Sowing seeds is a simple process. Start by filling seed trays or small pots with good quality, peat-free seed compost and lightly firm the surface. Place the seeds on top of the soil about one to two centimetres apart, and cover with a fine layer of compost or vermiculite.
Water lightly and place in a warm, sunny position. Use cling film or half an upturned plastic bottle to cover the seed – this will help create a consistent temperature and level of moisture, just like a mini propagator!
Within one or two weeks, the seed will begin to germinate and you should see a seedling sprout through the compost. Continue to water seedlings regularly, and as they establish they can be potted on into individual pots, so that each plant has its own space to grow.
Water your veg plants “deeply but infrequently” (Image: Getty)
6. Pot on your seedlings
If you have started your seedlings in trays indoors, you’ll need to transfer them to pots as soon as they’re large enough to handle, allowing them to grow and develop more easily. Gently hold the top leaves and carefully ease the seedlings out of the tray.
Use a dibber to create a hole in the compost in the growing pots. Carefully firm the compost around the roots, allowing the first leaves to sit just above the surface. Once potted water gently and place them in a warm spot indoors, protected from direct sunlight for the first four days.
7. Watering and maintenance
Proper watering is crucial to the health of your plants. Water deeply but infrequently to encourage deep root growth.
Installing a drip irrigation system or soaker hoses will deliver water directly to the roots, reducing the risk of fungal diseases, or you can simply use a watering can and apply water to the base of the plant.
Keep an eye out for pests and diseases, and take action early to prevent major problems.
These steps, when combined, will ensure a bountiful harvest in the months to come.