Growing Vegetables
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Finding Room for Vegetables in your Garden
The larger the space you set aside in your garden, the greater the selection of vegetables you can raise. Learn about sowing and early care like thinning, transplanting and staking.
GROWING VEGETABLES
Even if your garden is tiny, you can still find room for some vegetables. The larger the space you set aside, the greater the selection you can raise, but even if you cannot devote a whole bed to vegetables, you can grow a few of your favorites among the flowers in an ornamental border. There are several ways of producing the maximum crop of vegetables from a small space – such as planting two sorts together that ripen at different times, or sowing leafy vegetables close together and harvesting them when they are young and still small. You can even grow in containers – ideal if you have only a balcony, roof garden, or patio. Vegetables grow well on most soils, but will produce higher yields if the soil is improved by digging, manuring, and fertilizing. A sunny, sheltered site will increase the size and quality of the crop. So long as your vegetables have enough space and are well watered and fed, you can expect delicious, fresh produce from your garden.
Sowing and Early Care
Check the seed packet for the best time to sow, the recommended method and depth of sewing, and suggested site. The packet should also mention how long it will take for the seeds to germinate and for the vegetables to be ready to harvest, so retain seed packets for future reference.
Sowing Methods
Seeds can be sown in three ways – directly where they are to mature, into a seedbed, or into pots or trays. Sowing directly into the ground where the crop will mature is generally the simplest option. Add manure and fertilizer to the soil, then rake to remove all lumps before sowing. If sowing in dry soil, water the drill, sow, and cover the seeds with the soil, which acts as a mulch, keeping the moisture where the seeds need it. If the soil is very wet, wait for a few days or cover the area with a cloche or clear plastic until it dries out slightly. To assist drainage, sprinkle sand in the base of the drill before sowing. If the ground where the vegetables are to mature is not clear, sow in a seedbed – a spare area of prepared ground - and transplant the seedlings to the newly cleared area. Sowing into pots or trays is useful for half hardy vegetables since the seedlings can be raised in a protected environment until it is warm enough to plant them out.
After sowing, some vegetables can be left to mature, but most need to be thinned or transplanted elsewhere.
Sowing In A Drill
Use two stakes and a piece of string to mark the position of the drill. Stand on a board to avoid
compacting the soil, and draw the point of the hoe along the string. Sow the seeds as thinly as possible, cover with soil,
firm down, and water.
Thinning
When the seedlings are large enough to handle thin them out, leaving twice as many as you need. Two or
three weeks later, thin them again to the optimum spacing. Remove the weakest seedlings without disturbing the roots of the
remaining ones either use a hand fork carefully or pinch off the young seedlings at ground level. Water well.
Transplanting
Crops grown away form the vegetable plot need to be transplanted into their final positions when they are still young. Use a hand fork to ease out the young plants, then place them in a plastic bag so they do not lose moisture. Transplant immediately into moist, weed-free soil. After transplanting, water gently to settle the soil around the roots.
Staking
A few vegetables, including some tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant, need staking as they develop to keep them stable and to allow enough light and air to reach the crop. Push in a stake beside each plant when it is young, taking care not to damage the roots. Tie in the stem at regular intervals as the plant grows.