Introduction

Growing your own vegetables is not difficult and will save you money.  The vegetables will be fresh and you will know just how old the vegetables are when you come to use them.  It will provide exercise, fresh air and a sense of achievement each time you start to harvest your crops. Patience, time and a little bit of effort will make the task a very rewarding one

Why grow your own?

There are five reasons for growing your own vegetables.

 

• You know where the food comes from.

 

• Vegetables taste best when they are fresh.

 

• There are no additives or pesticides involved

 

• The satisfaction of doing something for yourself

 

• You can save money

 

Many people want to grow their own vegetables but may be put off by gardening programmes that make it look complicated.  In reality, it is not difficult – anyone can do it.  You don’t even need to have a garden.  You can grow a small amount of vegetables in containers, on trellis, in window boxes or you can get an allotment. Vegetables can be grown in any corner of the garden as long as it gets enough sunlight.  Vegetables will not succeed in damp, shady areas. 

 

Growing vegetables is very rewarding but it does require you to devote some time each week.  Vegetables do not grow by themselves; they need help. Planting, weeding and watering are essential.  The amount of time required depends on the amount of space you have available to grow vegetables.  A window box may only need ten to fifteen minutes a day, whereas a vegetable plot may need four or five hours a week depending on the season. Be prepared to spend at least two days getting the plot ready for planting. Throughout the growing season, you may need to spend up to an hour watering the plants each day if there is no rain. 

 

Getting started

Make sure you have the necessary tools to do the job.  If you are growing vegetables in containers you will need:

• Small hand fork and a trowel
• Watering can
• Seed trays and pots
• Labels

 

If growing in the open ground within a garden you will need:

• Digging fork and spade
• Hoe
• Hand fork and trowel
• Soil rake
• Watering can
• Dibber to make holes in which to place seeds or young plants
• Wheelbarrow
• Permanent marker pen
• Seed trays and pots
• Labels

 

Other useful items:

• Cloche
• Mini greenhouse

 

A cloche is recommended.  Cloches enable you to protect young plants against frost or to extend the growing period. The big advantage of cloches is that they can be moved around the garden, as you need them. There are different types of cloches available. The most common are plastic covered tunnels and rectangular boxes with lids.  Plastic cloches will last for several growing seasons.  Cloches with glass sides are dangerous if you have young children.

 

A mini-greenhouse is useful.  These are small, portable greenhouses that can be packed away for the winter.  They comprise a metal frame, with a plastic cover. Depending on size, a mini greenhouse will have up to six shelves. A mini greenhouse gives additional growing space for seeds and young plants, enabling you to protect the plants against frost in late spring or early autumn. 

 

Choosing tools

Do not simply rush into the garden centre and buy the first tools that you see.  Take your time and choose carefully.  It can make a tremendous difference between comfortable and painful gardening!  Forks, spades, hoes and rakes are tools that you will be using regularly.  There can be considerable variations in size.  The length of the shaft can vary between 70cm (28”) and 92.5 cm (37”).  On top of that is the length of the head – the bit that actually goes into the earth.  So someone who is just 5’ in height, will find it very uncomfortable digging with a tool that has a shaft of 92.5cms. If possible, try out tools before you buy – ask friends and neighbours what tools they use and try them for size.  When actually buying the tools in store, put your foot on the tread – the top of the blade where your foot rests when digging and try pushing down.  Does your foot slip off? Is it wide enough for your foot?  Is it comfortable?  Do you need to bend your back over the shaft?  Aim for tools which allow you to keep a fairly straight back when using them, with treads that are wide enough to keep your foot in place. 

 

You may find two types of fork and spade available – digging and border.  The only difference between them is size.  A digging fork has a slightly wider blade than a border fork.  The same is true of spades.

 

There are many types of hoes available. The simplest type is a Dutch hoe. As you push it forward and then pull backwards through the soil, it cuts through the weeds and loosens the soil. 

 

Soil rakes are used to level the soil before planting.  Draw it across the soil surface to break up any remaining clods and remove any large stones. 

 

If more than one person will be using tools like rakes and hoes it is worth considering multi-change tools.  These are ideal for people of varying heights.  You buy the shafts that suit your height, then add interchangeable heads.  The tool heads snap and lock or unlock just like using a seat belt. 

 

When choosing hand tools, make sure they fit comfortably into the palm of your hand.  They should fit firmly, not slip about or be too large to clasp easily.  These tools are essential when undertaking hand weeding or putting small plants into the ground. 

 

Check the weight of wheelbarrows before buying.  You do not want something that is very heavy. Remember that when you are using it, you may be pushing several tons of wet soil and garden refuse or a bag of compost. This will increase the weight significantly.  Wheelbarrows made from polypropylene will last longer than galvanized metal, as they do not go rusty. 

 

Gardening is physical, dirty work.  It does not make sense to wear your best clothes!  Wear practical, comfortable clothing that is not too tight. Shoes or Wellington boots are better than sandals or flip-flops.  Toes need protecting. Accidentally dropping a full plant pot on your foot is painful.  The blades of digging tools are sharp and can cause serious damage.  Gardening gloves

Impressum

Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 23.03.2014
ISBN: 978-3-7309-9437-5

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