Now that soils are beginning to become warmer it is time for the gardeners who would like to grow their own vegetables to get the garden beds prepared.
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Vegetables generally require a rich source of food in order to grow rapidly, while also sustaining growth over several months.
If these growing conditions are not met, then they will become stunted in growth and lack the desired flavour.
Soil that has been used previously for vegetable or flower plantings should be replenished with good sources of organic materials. These include well-rotted mushroom compost, cow manure and compost from garden sources.
The addition of lime to the soil is beneficial for many vegetables, particularly those that produce quick, leafy crops. The lime is essential for healthy leaf margins.
In addition, lime will assist in the prevention of blossom end rot in tomatoes. In fact the addition of trace elements to the soil prior to planting will help in the prevention of a number of diseases that result from a lack of certain elements. This is particularly important in clay-based soils, such as those found in many local areas, as these soils are often lacking in essential elements. Trace elements are available as complete units from gardening centres.
Vegetable crops require certain levels of consistent warmth in soil temperatures for satisfactory growth. Daytime temperatures above 20°C and night-time temperatures that are no lower than 10°C are generally required.
While seedlings of many varieties and types of vegetables are now available, it can be more cost-efficient for the home gardener to grow their plants from seeds. This will ensure the gardener grows the varieties that they prefer, as well as those varieties that are most suited to their garden according to available growing space and growing conditions.
The selection of vegetables suitable for growing and planting out now is quite extensive and includes beans, beetroot, capsicum, chillies, cucumbers, eggplants, pumpkin, spring onions, silver beet, corn, tomatoes and zucchini.
Vegetables that are being grown from seed can be sown direct into their garden bed position if the soil is already sufficiently warm. Otherwise, raising them in trays or punnets would be preferable. Placing the containers near a warm window or in a greenhouse will assist germination. Plants grown in this manner should then be gradually hardened off by placing the new plants into pots in an outdoors position prior to final placement in the selected garden bed. Optimum conditions for seed germination include a good supply of air, moisture, warmth and sunlight. The use of a specially prepared seed-raising mix will ensure good drainage. Once the young plants have several true leaves they will require placing into a soil that has been supplemented with a food source. Some vegetables, however, will require being planted directly into the garden bed in order to avoid stunted and unproductive plants. These include; carrots, peas and corn.
The addition of mulch to the surface of the soil, following planting out, will be most beneficial. Mulch sources, such as sugar cane mulch or pea straw, will help to reduce weed growth, as well as assisting in the retention of water.
geoffh.gardening@gmail.com
MAITLAND AND DISTRICT GARDEN CLUB
The monthly meeting of Maitland and District Garden Club will be held on Friday, October 31 at 7.30pm. Meetings are held in the Masonic Hall, Maitland, next to Maitland Town Hall. The guest speaker will speak about garden design. Visitors are welcome.
