Grow My Garden

Nothing quite beats the taste and pleasure of eating freshly grown vegetables. Find out for yourself by growing your own. Most vegetables can be grown from seed, either started indoors in seed trays, pots or propagators or outdoors sown directly into prepared ground. Seeds are a great investment; one small packet can hold as many as 400 seeds and you can choose from a huge array of different varieties, many more than are available as young plants. Seed packets also carry valuable instructions on raising the seed and growing the crop, including when and how to sow and when to harvest, so be sure to follow these carefully. Once you have grown plants from seed you’ll be hooked; not only by the great crops you produce but also the sense of satisfaction you will enjoy from growing your own. Things All Gardeners Need: Seed trays, pots or containers. Seed compost – Nothing special really good old dirt will do if you are on a budget. Seeds – Don’t rule out getting things like potatoes and Tomato seed from what you buy to eat. If you only like one variety make sure you grow the one you like. Plastic bags – for a number of uses. Dibber – or your finger will often do to make a hole.



The one single thing that we would like to pass on is that although you hear it always the is no such things as a person having "Green Fingers". It’s always said that a person who produces a good garden has green fingers but in reality it’s nothing more the dedication and thought so don’t let anything put you off producing your good garden. You don’t need to be an expert to grow most common vegetables but if you do it long enough you might become one

Popular vegetables to grow from seed

WHAT VEG – WHERE TO SOW – WHEN TO SOW – PLANT OUT – REAPING TIME

Sowing indoors:

Many plants get off to a better start if sown indoors in containers and later transplanted out. It also allows you to enjoy your produce earlier especially if outside temperatures remain cold well into spring. Sow seeds in trays, pots or modular seed trays, available from the garden centre. Pots or modular seed trays are particularly good as they minimise root disturbance by reducing the need for transplanting.
• For best results invest in specifically formulated compost for starting seeds off – garden centres offer several types which are fine textured and are ideal for germinating seeds in.
• Fill containers to about I cm from the top with compost and level the surface.
• Water the compost thoroughly and allow to drain for an hour or so before sowing.
• If sowing small seeds sprinkle over the soil surface and cover with a fine layer of moistened compost.
• Plant larger seeds into individual holes in the compost using a dibber, or make shallow drills in the surface and press seeds into these. Cover as recommended on the seed packet – usually to a depth equal to twice the seed diameter.
• Cover the container with a plastic bag and place in an appropriate place with the recommended levels of light and warmth – a heated propagator will improve the chances of successful germination so investing in one of these is worthwhile.
• Check for growth and as soon as this begins to appear remove the plastic and move to a warm, bright site.
• Water as needed to keep compost moist – never letting the compost dry out.  TIP it’s best to water seedlings from below, standing the container in a tray of water – this keeps the delicate leaves and stems dry and prevents rotting.
• When the seedlings have a second pair of true leaves, prick out and transplant them to small individual pots filled with potting compost, unless modular trays have been used. Place in bright, indirect light and keep moist.
• When all danger of frost has past, harden off plants and get ready to plant them outside. Sowing outdoors Sowing seed outdoors is remarkably straightforward if you spend a little time cultivating a seed bed to give the seeds the best environment in which to germinate.  This can be achieved by digging over the soil, incorporating organic matter, and then raking over several times in different directions to break down any large lumps to a fine crumbly tilth. For ease, you may also wish to use a tiller or powered rotovator. When you have prepared your seed bed you can choose how to sow your seeds.

Sowing in drills Create a shallow drill with a hoe or trowel and sow seed at the recommended rate by taking a pinch of seed between the thumb and forefinger and sprinkling the seed into the drill. Back fill the drill with soil and water in well with a watering can fitted with a fine rose. Once seedlings have developed, thin out to allow plants room to grow.

Broadcast sowing This usually takes place in early spring when temperatures have begun to warm up. Seed is scattered thinly over a prepared seed bed and lightly raked into the surface, or fine soil is sifted over the seed to cover. Once seedlings appear, thin out bigger clumps of seedlings to the recommended spacing by removing and discarding weaker seedlings.