Articles in the Grow Your Own Category
Garlic is used in a lot of recipes, and since there have been quite a few Italian style recipes on this site, it is time to teach you how to grow your own garlic.
Garlic grows well in any sunny place and all you need other than soil is a bit of general-purpose fertiliser.
Sowing
Don’t plant garlic cloves bought from a shop. In the words of your mother “You don’t know where it’s been”. Buy your bulbs on-line or from a store like you would any other plant. Split the bulbs into …
Carrots can be grown all year round if you plant suitable types. They can even be stored and frozen to provide you with a constant supply.
Sowing
Sow carrots 13mm (0.5in) deep in and 5cm (2in) apart. If you’re planting rows, keep the rows 15cm (6in) apart.
Depending on the type of carrot, you can sow in February if you protect tha plants well, although the main growing season is April to July.
Growing
Keep an eye on weeds as carrots are vulnerable to them. Keep the soil moist and you shouldn’t have a problem …
Beetroot is easy to grow and is ready to harvest in just a few short months. Regular sowing could mean a constant supply of beetroot all year round.
Sowing
Sow only a small number of seeds (1 or 2) 2.5cm (1in) deep and 15cm (6in) apart.
If you sow seeds every two weeks from mid-April, you should have a steady supply of beetroot all summer, and if you continue to sow late into summer, you could store the others for winter.
Growing
Young plants are sensitive to cold weather, and so it’s advised that you …
Asparagus is a great flavoured luxury, and fortunately not difficult to grow. A single plant can crop for up to 20 years and provide over 10 spears per season, not bad for a days work. The only problem is that we can only harvest in the third year.
Sowing
To grow asparagus, you can use either seed or dormant plants named crowns. Seeds should be sown into modules in February ready to transplant in early June. If you’re using crowns, plant in March or April.
Prepare some loose soil (either by forking or …
Broccoli is a super-food. It has gained popularity due to its high nutrient content and ability to help prevent cancer.
Sowing
Sow broccoli seeds 13mm (0.5in) deep and in rows 15cm (6in) apart. When seedlings show, thin them to 7.5cm (3in) apart. Sowing generally takes place in April and May, although it is still possible to sow in March and June in warmer regions.
Broccoli seeds can also be sown indoors using trays.
Growing
When the young broccoli plants are 10-15cm (4-6in) tall, move to their growing positions and leave 45cm (18in) between each plant.
Water …
Onions are one of the most used vegetables and are simple to grow. You can grow from sets or from seed. Growing from sets takes less skill and less time and are also less likely to be attacked by pests and diseases. However, if you choose to grow from a set, make sure that they have been heat treated, otherwise they may go to seed early!
Sowing
Onion seeds are best sown 13mm (0.5in) into soil in rows 20cm (8in) apart. Sowing time is generally from late February to early April. When …
