Golden rules for growing veg

Simple advice on looking after your veg patch

Nothing beats the taste of freshly picked vegetables that you've grown yourself. Here are our 10 golden rules for growing your own:

 

1 Prepare the soil well. Dig over the ground when it's reasonably dry to get air into it and loosen any compacted soil. Get rid of all weeds.

 

2 In the spring, dig in manure and compost to help retain moisture.

 

3 Raised beds save on digging as you don't need to walk on the soil. They also give good drainage and keep the areas distinct.

 

4 Wait for the soil to warm up in the spring before sowing seeds as they will germinate much faster than in cold earth.

 

5 To avoid a build-up of pests and diseases, and to replenish the soil, divide the vegetable garden into three - brassicas first, roots next and finally peas and beans - and rotate the groups of crops you plant in each space each year.

 

6 Position your veg patch in full sun and keep crops well watered for best results.

 

7 Pick courgettes frequently so they're young and tasty, and to encourage more crops to last you through summer.

 

8 ‘Cut and come again' varieties of lettuce are perfect for a pot in a small garden.

 

9 Keep your soil weed free by hoeing frequently between crops.

 

10 Add mulch to the surface of the soil around the base of plants to reduce the need for watering.

 

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See our gardening guide for more planting ideas, gardening tips and jobs for this month

 

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