Rachelle Strauss - Grow Your Own Vegetables: How to Grow, What to Grow, When to Grow

I ncluded here are the checklists from the end of each chapter of the book. Use them to remind yourself of what to do. Tick them off as you go along!

Why grow your own?

• How much money could you save by growing just one type of vegetable?
• Are there people you could share tools or swap seeds with?
• How many of the vegetables you eat are imported ? Do you eat seasonally or are you a creature of habit?
• How much processed or convenience food do you buy each week? Is there one meal you could create from some home-grown vegetables?
• How many miles do you travel each week to buy food? How much could you reduce that by growing some of your own food instead?
• How many times have you been into the supermarket to top up on vegetables and ended up buying other items you never intended to buy ?
• How much of the food you eat is organic ?
• How much food waste does your household create? (Try actually weighing it for a reality check!)
• How much food packaging do you put into the landfill waste every week?
• Take a look through your household rubbish. Which items could you reuse for gardening?
• How many prepared vegetables do you buy?
• Are you spending enough time outdoors ?
• Could gardening be a way for you to enjoy spending quality time with your family and friends?

Where to Grow

• Determine how much space you can dedicate to growing food
• If youre going to grow in containers, start shopping around to see the different types of containers available to you
• If youre going to build raised beds , think about the materials you might need
• Look into the availability of mini vegetables what can you buy and what do you like to eat?
• If youre using full-sized beds, do you want to grow neat, uniform rows or do you prefer a potager look ?
• Draw a plan of your garden to show where the sun falls throughout the day
• Do you need a polytunnel or greenhouse ? Look at choice and cost
• Buy a soil test kit and check out the pH of your soil
• If you want an allotment , get your name on a list straight away

What to Grow

• Look at what vegetables or herbs you would need for your favourite meal and see how many of them you could grow
• Work out how big a plot you need based on how many people you cook for each day
• Select just five crops to grow to avoid overstretching yourself
• Start saving old jars with lids for making chutneys and pickles
• Get into the habit of batch cooking to create instant healthy convenience food
• Decide how much space you have to grow food and think what containers you might need
• See if you can make window boxes or raised beds from materials in your garage or shed
• Compare your soil type to some vegetable requirements and see which will work best in your plot
• Read the list of crops for beginners and choose your favourites

Preparing to Grow

• Write a list of you and your familys favourite vegetables and herbs before deciding what to grow
• Write a list of your favourite meals to see which vegetables and herbs feature most strongly
• Less is more grow half a dozen crops for your first year and see how you get on
• If youre limited to a small growing space , choose suitable crops such as mini vegetables, salad leaves and herbs
• If you have a sunny site you could try tomatoes, peppers and sweetcorn
• If your site is shaded , salad leaves, kale and cabbages will grow well
• Thirsty crops include tomatoes, cucumbers and runner beans
• Crops with less need for water include kale, broad beans and Brussels sprouts
• Some crops with the least water requirements include root crops and many herbs

How to Grow

• Check seed packets to see when you need to start sowing
• Prepare your soil to a fine tilth in early spring
• Check to see if your seeds need to be planted in situ or whether they can be transplanted later
• Consider the use of seed tapes or seed mats if these would be helpful
• Make sure you have enough seed compost for your seeds
• Make sure your soil is warm and dry enough to begin sowing seeds
• Remember to water seedlings frequently as they emerge but water larger plants less frequently
• Gather together any materials you might need to extend your growing season such as fleece, cloches or a polytunnel
• Make sure you have enough pots for final transplanting if you are container gardening

Reaping the Rewards

• Think about which of the various methods of preservation bottling, drying, freezing and pickling might suit you and the crops you plan to grow
• Think of your reasons for storing your produce: whether it is to save money, lower your impact on the environment or for health reasons
• Plan your harvest carefully: could you prevent a glut by successive sowing or by choosing varieties that mature at different times of the year?
• Dont store crops that produce ethylene next to those that are susceptible to its effects
• If you have the room, try clamping as an effective and simple way to store root crops
• Collect suitable jars for bottling tomatoes and for making pickles and chutneys
• Air dry and/or freeze herbs
• Experiment with dehydrating different varieties of vegetables in the oven, remembering to make a note of your results, with times
• Try some new pickle and chutney recipes a great way to use up a glut of vegetables!

Pests and Problems

• Prevent pests by attracting beneficial wildlife into your garden
• Use sprays made from plant extracts (such as garlic) to repel pests
• Consider companion planting , which can confuse pests and throw them off the scent of plants they like
• Keep soil healthy by rotating crops
• Avoid overcrowding plants; giving them more space can reduce the risk of pest attack
• Reduce the risk of plant diseases by having a good garden maintenance regime: regular watering and weeding can help, as can sterilizing any equipment
• If you spot a diseased plant, work quickly to solve the issue and prevent the problem spreading
• Weed on a daily basis, even if its just for ten minutes
• Use thick layers of mulch to suppress weed growth
• Never rotovate ground that is contaminated with perennial weeds
• Pull up annual weeds by hand before they flower and drop more seeds
• Some weeds are beneficial ; nettles attract ladybirds into the garden and make a great ingredient for soup!

Grow Your Own Vegetables

Authors:Maria Costantino

Foreword by Heather Gorringe, CEO, Wiggly Wigglers
A Flame Tree iGuide