It's so simple to grow your own fruit and vegetables and not only will it work out a lot cheaper than buying them from a supermarket you'll also be confident that your produce is free from any harmful pesticides and fresh from the ground.
First you need to decide where to site your plot. Choose a sunny spot that is sheltered from any harsh winds. Make sure you can access the area easily and not too far from the house - you don't have to walk too far in the rain when collecting your harvest for the kitchen.
If you only have a very small garden and can't spare a large patch you can always plant some crops in your flowerbeds. And if you only have a patio or balcony there are many fruit and vegetables that can be grown in containers.
Before you begin to do any planting you need to prepare your site. This may seem like a tedious chore but it is absolutely essential if you want to get the most from your crops. Dig over the ground and remove any large stones and weeds and add some well-rotted manure or compost. Digging over the ground will aerate the soil and encourage earthworms.
If you have a very large plot you may want to make some brick pathways so that you can access your crops easily. Choose whether you want to grow your crops in rows or square patches and plan your paths accordingly.
The location of your plot and type of soil will determine the types of fruit and vegetables that you can grow. Mediterranean vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and aubergines do best in very fertile soil with plenty of sunshine whereas root vegetables will thrive in colder weather. If you are lucky enough to have a greenhouse you may wish to grow some of your crops in there or at least begin their germination.
If you don't have much space alternate between fast and slow growing crops that mature at different times. For example you could plant summer lettuces in between autumn cabbages so that the lettuces will be harvested before the cabbages need the space. If you choose to do this make sure you don't plant crops that will grow too tall and shade the smaller seedlings.
The cheapest way to grow your plants is from seed, although you may end up with a lot of seedlings. If you have neighbours or friends who also have a kitchen garden you could share the seedlings amongst yourselves.
Most seeds are best of started in pots on a windowsill or in a greenhouse although some seeds such as carrots can be sown straight into the ground. Make sure that the frost has passed before you sow any seeds in the ground and read the instructions on the seed packets carefully.
You will need to water your kitchen garden regularly to help vine fruits mature and stop root vegetables from turning woody and coarse. Use a watering can or hose and on very hot days if you have a very large patch you may want to use a slow drip irrigation system. You may also need to feed your plants with special fertilisers. Tomatoes, for example, benefit from weekly feeding to help them ripen but for most vegetables if you have prepared the soil well feeding should not be necessary.
Watch out for pests. You can get many resistant varieties to prevent pests but if you do think you have an infestation then you will need to deal with them as quickly as possible to prevent them spreading. If you want to garden organically think about using natural pest control. For example release some ladybirds into your kitchen garden to stop aphids.
With a little care you should soon reap the rewards of your kitchen garden and with each year as it matures your crops should get better and better.
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