Veggie Garden

Jeld-Wen Falcon · 16-05-2006, 07:31 PM

Im going to start my own little veggie garden out in the yard. Ive done it before but it was a very long time ago and I was only young.The garden will only start small to see if its successful then if it is ill grow it more. Has anyone got any experience and advice to share?

MO · 16-05-2006, 08:27 PM

The only good advice I can give is do lots of research as I'm doing...also just starting a vegie patch...mind you there are lots of candidates on here for being vegies.

Try the ABC bookshop for a gardening book by Tom Wyatt...very knowledgable.

nugget378 · 16-05-2006, 08:48 PM

It's not that hard, just talk to people who have done it or just learn as you go,I grew an acre or so of garlic where everybody said they would'nt grow.Bet you can smell my breath from there.

:

Van D · 16-05-2006, 09:01 PM

Do your research.. We tried like 3 times.. Only thing we could ever really grow were carrots, then we gave up.

rodderz · 16-05-2006, 09:13 PM

I did one the other week to save some money buying them, only thing is i dont eat many vegies...lol

Make sure you have a good organic mix of soil in there, if the soil there is already not bad mix in some broken-down composted material if you have a compost bin. Otherwise, buy a bag or 2 of compost from the nursery or peat moss which will improve it greatly. Top up with a layer of peat moss, this will act as a mulch as well as break down to add nutrients to the soil

If you're planting from seed buy some seed raising mix also, which is a fine potting mix and follow the instructions on the packet. Seedlings are a good idea as they are already growing, just split them apart in the punnet and keep them 25cm apart or so depending on variety. Once they're all in, water in well and add some Seasol seaweed mixture to the water to stimulate the root growth, and do this weekly. Your main aim is to keep the nutrients and water up as the plants will need it to provide the fruit/vegies that sometimes are pretty big, if there isnt enough energy for them they will be small

Buy the stuff that grows well in your area this time of year, which the info is usually on the packet anyway

falcon91 · 17-05-2006, 08:24 AM

That show on the ABC "Gardening Australia" I think it's called. The one with that annoying English guy who has lived in Australia for 30 years (And sounds like he arrived yesterday) has heaps of good Ideas. I grow only tomatoes and chillies mostly and the taste is nothing compared to the rubbish they sell at supermarkets! Good Luck!

Although with all the stuff you need in the first few seasons, it works out to be about $20 a Kilo for tomatoes. But it's relaxing, you get a sense of acheivment and they taste great!

TheSneakiness · 17-05-2006, 09:50 AM

Corn always grows.

Well, everytime I've planted corn, it's always done really well.

Only advice I can really offer is that you get a good patch of soil, give it a water once a day and reap the rewards...

Dazza XLT · 17-05-2006, 10:00 AM

Fertilise too! Gotta have the extra nutrients to grow anything.

4.9 EF Futura · 17-05-2006, 10:23 AM

Mind your Ns, Ps and Ks. As stated, do a bit of research and find out what the veggies you intend on cultivating will want in the way of nitrogen, phosphate and potassium. Plants with similar needs will want to be near each other. Change the mixtures of the fertiliser to suit the stage of the plant's growth cycle.

Trace elements are also important. Manure gives good balances for most vegies but take caution in its preperation as its easy to burn them with too much N... seaweed based stuff has a good spectrum of these.

Get your nutrients, light (LOTS of sun for vegies) and water requirements (loose soil for vegies, dont bother if you have drainage issues) right and there's no reason stuff wont grow well.