BetterHomesAndGardensAustraliaDecember2015_

Potted food

3.Not all cherry tomatoes

are small growers – look for

varieties that are labelled as

perfect for pots.

The basics

■ Soil Vegetables do best in

a crumbly, easy-to-dig soil

with plenty of added organic

matter, such as manure and

compost. For this reason, it’s

best to give them a raised

garden bed so you can fill

it with a good quality

vegetable-growing mix.

■ Sun Vegetables need

plenty of sun to grow their

leaves and ripen their fruit.

Give them a spot which gets

at least 5–6 hours of sunlight

a day and isn’t exposed to

strong winds.

■ Food and water Enrich the

soil well before you begin

planting. At planting stage,

apply a controlled release

fertiliser for vegetables and

water in thoroughly.

Subsequently, use liquid

fertilisers periodically (every

two weeks if possible) to

encourage healthy growth,

choosing a formulation

specifically for vegetables.

For fruit-bearing plants like

tomato, capsicum and

eggplant, use a liquid

fertiliser designed for

flowering and fruiting plants.

Water your vegetable

seedlings regularly to get

them established, then

reduce to soakings whenever

the soil is dry 2–3cm down

(finger test to check). During

hot spells, increase the

frequency of watering.

Soaker hoses or micro-

irrigation systems (where

allowed) will simplify the job

and save time. To help

conserve soil moisture

through summer, spread

a fine-textured mulch once

your seedlings have

developed into small plants

(being careful to keep it back

from the stems).

Doingit in pots

As garden sizes decline, using

containers is becoming popular and the

range of compact vegies is expanding.

Choose containers with a depth and

width of about 30–40cm, filled with

good-quality potting mix for herbs and

vegies. These usually contain a slow-

release fertiliser, but if not, add it and

mix through. Place containers in an

open sunny spot and feed with liquid

fertiliser. The best varieties to grow

include cherry tomatoes, salad greens,

silverbeet, chilies and capsicums, snow

peas, and baby root vegetables like

carrot and beets.

it i

homeharvest

102

TOP

10 VEG

Tomato

Beans

Lettuce

Cucumber

Capsicum

Carrot

Radish

Silverbeet

Beetroot

Zucchini

for spring

planting

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