How To Grow Fruit and Vegetables – For Beginners

Spring is in the air. The weather is warming up, the flowers are starting to blossom and
it is time to get out in the garden! If you are looking for a new project to get stuck into then planting your
own fruit and vegetables is a great idea. There is nothing more rewarding than being able to pick and eat your
own fruit and vegetables. Below we have compiled a list of some low maintenance fruit and vegetables to plant
this spring. Even the most novice of gardeners will be picking the fruits of their labor in no time.

 

• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Peas
• Carrots
• Beetroot
• Avocados
• Blueberries
• Strawberries

 

 

• Trowel
• Organic compost
• Good quality seeds/individual plants
• Fertiliser
• Organic mulch
• Watering can

 

Start off with a small plot size (approx 3m x 2m is plenty) with well drained soil in a nice sunny spot in the
garden, making sure you leave enough access to weed and harvest. Dig out around 20cm of soil and replace with an
organic compost or manure around 1 week before planting.

Sowing high quality seeds is going to be your most cost efficient option; however, you can purchase smaller
plants or seedlings if you are planting later in the season.Mark a straight line in the soil and use a trowel to create a ridge as deep as the seeds need to be sown.
Water the the soil to create a moist environment for your seeds to germinate. Sow the seeds according to the
packet instructions and cover with soil. Be sure to follow the instructions, taking particular care with
spacing.

Watering is going to be your most important job! Plants need plenty of hydration, especially when the weather is
windy or very dry. In Summer we would recommend watering once a day either before 11am or after 4pm.

Regular fertilisation is essential for growing a nice healthy crop. There is a great variety of organic
fertilisers at your local hardware store. Make sure to purchase the one that is best suited to your particular
fruit & veggies and be sure to follow the instructions.As we get into summer you will want to mulch your crop. Lots of fruit and vegetables don’t like it when the
soil gets too hot. Adding a layer of mulch will help to keep the soil at a more suitable temperature and keep
the weeds away.

 

Your main defense against pests and disease is going to be keeping good soil conditions, fertilising, and
watering. Your plants will be strong and healthy which will in turn give them the best chance at resisting any
damage. Check your plants regularly to become familiar with their normal healthy appearance. Then, if there is a
problem you can tackle it quickly.

 

There are lots of organic pesticides that can be used to keep the pesky pests away. If you would rather keep
things as natural as possible you could try using a barrier such as a fine net.