Anyone Can Grow Veggies

Towards the end of last year Mike very kindly built me the veggie patch of my dreams. Big enough to plant a decent selections of veggies, herbs and even fruits but small enough that it doesn't take up the entire back yard.

Now I have never been a green thumb and quite regularly kill off plants by accident but I seem to have really found my niche when it comes to growing food.

Winter had me planting beetroots, carrots, baby spinach, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and snow peas. Along with Rosemary, garlic, onions, chives, mint, basil and thyme.

By spring I had added tomatoes, cucumbers, iceberg lettuce, butternut pumpkin, peaches, Pak choy, more carrots, more onions and a fig tree.

I have been lucky enough to enjoy the beetroots, carrots, snow peas and baby spinach as well as the onions and cherry tomatoes which are still fruiting.

When planting, I decided to split my crop into sections. Somethings were plants into the veggie patch others into pots and other directly into the garden bed.

I was also conscious of how certain plants would grow, for example the cherry tomatoes and the cucumbers need something to climb up against so they were plants into the veggie patch and once tall enough I used zip ties to attach the vines to the climbing mesh stapled to the fence.

So here are a few suggestions on how to grow things no matter how small a space

BALCONY GROWING

Make use of the walls!

The most common thought when it comes to growing plants on a balcony is to use pots. Which of course you will have to do, but have you considered creating a garden wall for smaller lighter plants? Use wall planters to make a multi tier garden bed up the side of your balcony wall. Make it interesting by combining herbs, vegetables, berries, greenery and flowers.

Cucumbers create a stunning green wall and will grow quite quickly and are also rather forgiving when growing.

Try planting things you would usually by at the store or cook with often.

Basil, Oregano, Thyme, Mint, Chives and Chillies are all herbs and spices I cook with regularly so make the perfect addition to the garden.

Use large pots on the ground for heavier or larger plants. Think along the lines of tomatoes, lettuce etc

COURTYARD GROWING

Like balcony growing, courtyard growing presents an excellent opportunity to use the walls to create a garden oasis. Use planter boxes up the walls to feel like you are stepping into your own little green paradise.

Choose 1 or 2 walls to have your planter boxes on and then with large garden mesh create a wall for the likes of cucumber to climb up to give a lush yet practical look.

Create a small planter bed along the wall and plant with larger plants, think dwarf fruit trees, pumpkins, cabbage flowers, carrots and beetroots.

LARGE BACKYARD / ACERAGE GROWING

You lucky people have the best options of all! depending on how much of a garden you are wanting and how much time you want to be putting into it, you have the options of going all out and creating quadrants for all the different fruits, vegetables and herbs, plus the added bonus of having the option to plants a large crop of each should you desire.

Or maybe even create an orchard filled with all your favourite fruit and nut trees.

Like beans or passionfruit? Create a walk way using trellises and mesh and plant your passionfruit's so that they can grow up and over. Or if you are wanting to add a pop of colour and to create the most amazing walk way in your garden try planting wisteria to give a fairy garden vibe.

It doesn't matter how small an area you have, if you really want to have some fun growing veggies there is always a way!

Even if it means having a small rosemary plant on your kitchen bench, nothing quite beats the freshness of home grown fruit, veggies and herbs.