Colin loves spring with the weather warming up and the nurseries full of fruit and vegetable seedlings. And now is the perfect time to be planting them. This ornamental vegetable garden that Colin designed and constructed last year is now ready for its spring and summer vegies, so, lets get to it!
Even small gardens and front gardens can be used to maximise the space to grow your own food. Here on the lower level I have used a four-bed crop rotation system edged with parsley, chives and Buxus. In the first bed Colin is going to plant some Tomatoes, Capsicum and chillies under planted with basil. And in the second vegie bed some brassicas including kale, cauliflower, cabbage and Asian greens.
In the third bed, Colin is planting peas and beans and in the fourth bed onions and quick growing lettuce varieties. Taller fruit and vegies like eggplant and cucumber will be grown on the trellis, and pumpkin, zucchini and squash in the top raised bed.
Colin always likes to place his seedlings in Seasol prior to planting to reduce transplant shock and to really get their roots growing strongly.
Every time you plant your fruit and vegies, always add some compost, soil improver and organic fertilizer and dig it in, remembering to avoid your irrigation pipes. When planting your seedlings dig a hole slightly larger than the pot, and then gently tap them out of the pot and tease out some of their roots. Place your seedlings in the hole and then backfill with soil around them and gently firm in.
Finally always water in your vegies with Seasol to further reduce transplant shock and to reduce stress from heat to help produce tougher and healthier plants.
Use three capfuls in a 9-litre watering can and apply to the plant foliage and soil around the roots every 2 to 4 weeks.
Seasol is a completely organic seaweed extract that is safe to use on all the plants in your garden. In this garden Colin is using it on trees, flowering and fruiting plants and seedlings all year round. Seasol is a complete garden health treatment that contains plant nutrients, trace elements, alginic acid and other bioactive compounds to stimulate strong healthy roots, flowering and fruiting. For larger gardens or lawn areas like this verge area the 2 litre hose-on spray is the best way to go.
So with spring in the air, why not get out and about in the garden planting some vegies for a tasty treat. And remember ‘Don’t forget the Seasol’.
You can find Seasol in Bunnings and most hardware stores and to find out more go to Seasol.com.au. Or jump on homeinwa.com.au to see this story again.
