Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2009 | Page 78

life

GARDENING

The golden rules of veg growing
Position

Feeding and weeding

Most vegetable crops do well in a sunny,
sheltered spot, but some will do well
in semi-shade such as salads and leafy
vegetables. Growing in containers is an
advantage as you can move them around
the garden to suit the season and the
crop. Make sure they are deep enough if
growing root veg.

Add blood fish and bone to your plot
a week before sowing or planting
out. Add a handful of slow release to
containers before sowing/planting with
veg. Throughout the growing season top
up nutrient levels by applying a liquid
fertiliser – a general one for leafy veg,
and a high potash one (such as Tomorite)
for fruiting crops. Keep on top of the
weeds throughout the season as these will
compete for nutrients.

Soil
Give your veg the best start in life by
making sure the soil they are being grown
in is rich in organic matter by adding
compost, well-rotted manure, mushroom
compost or leaf mould.

Water
The aim is to keep the soil as evenly moist
as you can throughout the growing season.
Soaking a very dry soil may result in
splitting, and letting the soil dry out too
far may result in the crop running to seed
or bolting. Adding organic matter to your
soil will help moisture retention.

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Pests and diseases
Tender new shoots of veg are an extremely
inviting dinner prospect for the local pest
population. Prevention is better than cure.
Keep a watchful eye and squish at the first
sign of attack. You don’t want to ruin
your veg with chemicals – try spraying
aphids and whitefly with a soapy water
solution – this blocks their sphericals.
Keep a tidy shop. Remove and destroy any
signs of disease immediately, to prevent
spreading.

Sowing
seeds

Sally C
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Always check the back of the
packet to see when you should sow, and
whether to sow directly outside or under
glass. The outside bed should be weed free
and raked over to create a fine tilth. Draw
a drill with a cane to the depth the seed
requires. It’s usual to sow 2 or 3 seeds at
intervals, thinning out to the strongest.
When sowing indoors, fill pots or trays
with multipurpose or seed compost. Firm
down and water. Sprinkle seeds evenly
with your thumb and forefinger; mix fine
seeds with sand before sowing. Lightly
cover seeds with compost to a depth,
which is twice that of the seed. Never let
the compost dry out. Prick out when first
set of true leaves have come through, into
individual pots or cellular trays. Once
developed, if destined for life outside,
harden off in a cold frame.

Next issue: Going green in the garden:
doing your bit to save the planet, plus
Sally’s top tips.

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