Your Own Vegetable Garden
Have you ever wanted to have your own vegetable garden? Growing
your own fresh vegetables is not difficult and apart from
the wonderful taste, you will also know exactly what has
gone into and on to your food.
If getting is all set up has been the obstacle to growing your own, why not let Hornsby Lawn Mowing do it for you? For a quote now
call 1300 882 787. Depending on the site we can be in and
out in 1 to 2 days with your vegetable garden up and running.
Below are some of the aspects we consider when visiting your
site.
Location
The
one really vital requirement for a successful vegetable
garden is a sunny location. Choose the sunniest spot you
can find. If the only sunny area is paved, or on the deck
or balcony, then plant your vegetables in pots (refer to
our info on sowing into containers). There are quite a few
varieties of vegetables developed expressly for this purpose
and container vegetable growing is becoming easier and easier.
The
Soil
The
soil in a vegetable garden needs to be well-draining with
a good structure (nice and crumbly) that allows rapid root
growth and easy access to nutrients, water and air. The
incorporation of organic material such as household compost
(best because it's weed free) and composted animal manures
helps to create suitable conditions for growth. It should
be dug over to break up clumps of soil (never dig when the
soil is wet & sticky as this will cause clumping). If, however,
you find digging difficult, or are faced with a compacted,
poorly-drained site, then building up a "no-dig garden"
with layers of straw, hay and compost above ground level
will allow you to grow wonderful vegetables without the
heavy work of digging over the bed. Whatever way you go
the top of the soil should be friable to allow the emerging
shoots to break through. At Hornsby Lawn Mowing we test to find out exactly
what your soil may require.
The
degree of soil acidity (i.e. the pH) can affect nutrients
available to plants. Most vegetables thrive in soil with
a pH between 6 and 7. A simple pH test with a soil testing
kit will indicate
if your soil is too acid or too alkaline. Soils with plenty
of organic matter added may need the addition of garden
lime to raise the pH. For maximum growth, natural fertilisers
may need supplementing with artificial fertilisers to ensure
that the plants have all the nutrients they need. Don't
over-fertilise. The use of a variety of organic materials
will probably produce perfectly satisfactory results. Water
well before sowing.
Sowing
Now
you are ready to open your packet and sow those miraculous
little seeds! It is usually best to sow in a straight line
so that you can easily distinguish your vegetables from
any weeds which may also sprout. The job may be made easier
for small seeds by mixing them with sand & applying with
a shaker to better control the sowing rate. Sow the seed
according to the directions on the packet. A general rule
that works for many seeds is that you plant them at a depth
that is twice the diameter of the seed with a minimum depth
of 1 cm. Water with a fine spray initially. The seeds need
moisture to develop, so keep them moist but don't drown
them.
Coping
with Pests
One
of the great advantages of the home vegetable garden is
the option of producing pesticide-free produce.
At Hornsby Lawn Mowing we believe people will benefit greatly from knowing
exactly what has gone into producing there vegetables.You
may have to settle for produce that is not as visually perfect
as the shop-bought stuff and steel yourself to doing plenty
of picking off and squashing of pests. Looking at your growing
crop every day not only gives satisfaction but can enable
you to quickly detect any harmful insects and physically
remove them. The other options, of course, include choosing
products with low toxicity eg Pyrethrum insecticide, trying
biological control eg Dipel (for caterpillars) and using
companion planting. (Marigolds are very good). Snail bait
is something that you may need to use. (Multiguard is much
safer than other baits.) A snail beer trap can be very effective
- bury a container level with the ground & fill with beer.
Slugs & snails find it irresistible & then drown happily.
What
to Plant
The
choice of vegetables depends on the tastes of those who
are going to eat them. Don't waste garden space producing
wonderful crops of, say, sweet potato, if no one in the
family will touch them with a bargepole! Like all sensible
producers, cater for your market, and sow seed successively
to have an on-going supply. Tomatoes, beans, peas, broccoli,
capsicums, lettuce, carrots and zucchini are all particularly
easy & rewarding. You don't need a huge space at all, and
a vegie garden can be very attractive. Join us as we help
you along the way to grow delicious, healthy vegetables
for yourself, your family and your friends.
Existing
Mowing Clients
Existing
Lawn Mowing Clients can have their Vegetable Patch regularly
maintained as an inclusion to the routine service we provide,
at discounted rates.
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