FOR much of Australia, now is the time to begin planting your summer crop of vegetables.
There’s no doubt home-grown produce tastes better, is fresher and more nutritious because it can be taken from garden to plate. It also uses less fuel miles, helping to save the environment.
Preparing the ground includes digging it over, removing weeds, perhaps putting some garden lime and fertilising.
Climbing plants will need a frame which can be placed up against a fence or created from three long sturdy sticks to make a tripod.
You will need to attach some string or mesh for the plants to cling to. You can grow from seed or seedling, whichever is best for you.
Summer crops can include potatoes, carrots, beans, corn, tomatoes, pumpkin and squash of many kinds as well as herbs such as parsley, sage, rosemary, basil and thyme.
Some only need small spaces and others, such as pumpkin and squash, need to be grown in a large area. When deciding what to plant, you need to consider this.
Possibly one of the easiest vegetables to grow and harvest is the tomato (originally called the “love apple” by the Incas who developed many types).
Although I like the big varieties – one slice makes a sandwich – I find the cherry type is easier to grow.
You get lots of these on the bush, the taste is wonderful and they seem to mature before the birds have discovered them, eliminating the need to spray.
Stick to those that most of the family will eat and enjoy, unless you’re prepared to give some away.
If you plan to be away for summer holidays, you will also need to find someone to look after your vegies.
If you let them take what matures while you are vacationing, they will be well rewarded.
Most vegetables need to be grown in full sun. If, like me, your garden has only a small number of these places, then consider growing them in pots or tubs that can be moved around as the season progresses.
Harvest as the produce ripens in order to beat the other creatures who think that you have planted the vegetables especially for them!
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