A Guide to Growing Your Own Vegetables
Growing your own vegetables at home is a rewarding and enjoyable past time that can be done in any sized garden, balcony or kitchen window!
No matter your age or skill level, growing your own veg is something that both adults and kids can get involved with. You can even pick your own favourite vegetables to grow and eat afterwards.
Considerations for growing you own veg at home
Before you dive in to planting and growing, it is best to ensure you have taken a moment to consider what you would like to grow and if you have the space for it. Every plant has different space requirements depending on how large they grow, how wide their roots span and how much they produce.
Not only is space a factor to consider, but you will also want to think about the time you will need to set aside. While that may seem like a daunting statement, it really boils down to how much watering you will need to do, or if the plant requires any maintenance throughout its life cycle? You could look into irrigation systems to do the work for you!
If you are new to growing veg, you may want to start off with something easy while you get a hang of things. Once you have mastered the basics, you can move on to more high maintenance veg!
Arguably one of the most important considerations when growing you own veg – grow things you love to eat. Nothing is more rewarding than getting to cook and eat your own home grown produce. If you want to grow varieties that aren’t your personal favourite, you can always gift them to friends and neighbours to enjoy.
The best vegetables to grow at home
The array of vegetable seeds available to grow at home is extensive, however some are considerably easier than others. Some of the easiest vegetables to grow for beginners include courgette, beans, beetroot, rocket, radish, chillies, potatoes, salad leaves, cucumber, tomatoes, herbs and carrots.
If you don’t feel confident enough to grow from seed, you can also find early starter vegetable plants ready to be transplanted.
Growing in a greenhouse
When you start growing veg from seed, it is best to start them in a greenhouse or on a kitchen windowsill, as temperatures are warm and better for germination.
For glass greenhouses or pop-up grow houses, you may want to opt for a heated propagator or heated grow mat to combat the night time frosts while seedlings are still young.
Most plants that need to be sowed from Feb – April will need to start off in a greenhouse before they are moved outdoors. For warm climate plants, such as tomatoes, peppers or chilli’s, these will benefit from remaining inside a greenhouse throughout their life for a strong, healthy growing period and abundant crop.
Greenhouses often come with shelving which can be great for trays of seedlings and small pots. For removable shelving, you can adapt the greenhouse to suit your needs, such as making extra space once plants start to increase in height.
For permanent greenhouses, you can plant directly into the ground once the plant is well established.
Growing in the ground or raised beds
Planting vegetables in the ground or raised beds is great for producing abundant crops, as the space for the roots allows for strong establishment. Some varieties of veg will withstand being planted directly outdoors, such as potatoes, where as other tender plants will need to be transplanted out from the greenhouse once they are big enough.
Being able to plant in the ground or raised beds is perfect for vegetables that will need more space than a container can provide, such as courgettes, sweetcorn or broccoli. You may want to check how large the vegetable plant will grow, or how wide it will spread, as this may influence what you plant in your raised beds and how you arrange them.
One consideration for growing in the ground or raised beds is how much water will be required. As roots are less restricted, they will grow deep into the ground. When watering, you want to ensure you are giving the plants enough so that the water is able to permeate all the way down, rather than just watering the very top of the soil. For raised beds, bare in mind that the wooden frame will absorb the moisture from the ground, meaning you may have to compensate for this while watering.
Growing in patio or balcony containers
Planting veg in pots, containers, grow-bags or grow tables is a fantastic way to grow your own from home, even when space is limited. For those who have limited growing room, you can produce fantastic chillies or herbs from your kitchen windowsill, or even window boxes.
When growing on patios or balconies, you will want to make sure you choose a container that is deep enough or wide enough for the type of vegetable you are planting. Why not try pots designed to hang on balcony railings?
Carrots, lettuce, salad onions, or potatoes are great in containers and take up little space height wise, making them a great option for patios. Depending on the height you have available, different varieties of tomatoes are perfect for large pots too, as well as trailing varieties that grow well in hanging baskets.
One thing to consider when growing in containers is to ensure there is ample drainage, as excess water retention can lead to root rot. When getting your containers ready, be sure to use a good quality vegetable compost for the added nutrients the plants will need.
