Growing backyard veggies
A backyard vegetable garden is as close as it gets to eating local. Veggie gardens come in a range of shapes and sizes – a couple of raised beds, a series of pots on the balcony or even a no-dig garden. Before you get started you’ll need to consider where to put your garden, soil and compost, seeds and seedlings, what you should grow when and where, and harvesting.
Garden site – Is there enough shade or light for the type of food you want to grow? Is there enough space for an entire patch or are planter boxes more suitable? What will grow best in the climatic conditions? Will you have enough time to tend to a big garden? Be sure to survey your area – it might be helpful to draw a map or plan for your garden.
Soil and compost – Soil is one of the most important parts of growing food – it’s the difference between plonking seeds in the ground, and having them grow or struggle. The best way to cultivate good soil is to start a compost. Chicken, horse or cow manure is another great way to condition the soil and add nutrients to the soil. Growing ‘green manure’ or legumes will add nitrogen, lime will add acidity. There are a variety of ways to improve your soil – a soil test using a soil testing kit will help you determine what you need.
Seeds and seedlings – Pick up your seeds and seedlings at local Canberra nurseries. Organic varieties have been grown without chemical treatments. Heirloom varieties are older varieties that are great for seed-saving and have high nutritional value. Different seeds may require different treatments such as soaking in water or mixing with sand before growing. Be sure to read the sowing or planting information, including where and when to grow. Seedlings can also be purchased for a quicker growing period, or if you have missed the sowing window.
What to grow when and where – Canberra has four distinct seasons that guide our planting. Check out our Canberra Gardener’s Calendar or peruse the Canberra Organic Growers Society’s fantastic set of growing guides for each season. You may also want to consider companion planting (what grows best together), seed- bombing, crop-rotation and growing fruit trees.
Harvesting – Its usually obvious when a vegetable can be harvested. Others such as pumpkins are a bit different (keep an eye on the pumpkin vine – it’s ready when the stem and vine starts to brown). There are countless online resources to help if you are unsure when to harvest your crop.