Giving advice on home vegetable gardening is fraught with difficulty as I don’t know where in the world you live. I live in the subtropics on the eastern coast of Australia. In summer it’s quite hot which is good for salad greens and tomatoes and in winter the climate is mild which allows us to grow a large cross section of vegetables.

But there are some universal tips.

1. Grow with the Season

In this day and age we can walk into any supermarket and buy produce from anywhere in the world. When I was a child we could buy watermelon and Mangos, peaches and cherries only around Christmas. These fruits still hold Christmas memories for me. Now I can buy them anytime I like because of importing. In Chinese traditional health it is advised that in order to enjoy good health you should eat with the seasons. It means you are best to eat those fruits and vegetables which are grown in your region.

2. Cheat.

Wander around your neighbourhood; peer into backyards and onto balconies, not in a weird way of course! Take to neighbours who are gardeners’. Ask them which are the vegetables they find easiest to grow and when is the best planting time. Have a chat with some older gardeners they will enjoy your interest and are likely to be a great source of local tips.

The reasons I can’t give specific planting advice this is that there can be a wide difference in what and when to plant even within a relatively small geographical area. I recently heard that in a favourite wine growing region of Australia that the harvest time was one day earlier for every mile north.

You don’t need to be this fussy, but in my area, 12 Miles West is 1700 feet higher, and cooler and less humid than where we are. Just 100 Miles south west it is much hotter and much colder during the year. So think locally.

3. Prepare well.

The quality of the soil you plant in will largely determine the outcome of your vegetable growing experiment. Make sure you did the soil well, breaking up clumps and turning over the soil several times over a few days. Don’t rush this process. You may need to add to the soil, dolomite, gypsum etc. Again local knowledge will be important.

4. Location.

Does your site get sufficient sun, will it be in the shade for long periods of the day.

Is the site subject to strong winds?

Is the site likely to superheat because of reflection from adjacent walls or paths.

Will it be too cold?

Is the site close enough to your kitchen so that you can easily access some fresh greens while preparing a meal?

Do you live in a high pollution area or close to a busy road? If so your garden will be covered in the exhaust fallout from the traffic.

Do you need to elevate your garden beds because of back or knee problems?

Do you have a handy water source?

Do you have the time to tend your garden?

Is the soil suitable or will you have to bring in soil, is this practical and possible given the layout of your property? Remember it takes a lot more soil than you might imagine to create a garden.

TIP: Start with a small area and expand as your expertise and interest grows.

Giving advice on home vegetable gardening is fraught with
difficulty as I don’t know where in the world you live. I
live in the subtropics on the eastern coast of Australia. In
summer it’s quite hot which is good for salad greens and
tomatoes and in winter the climate is mild which allows us
to grow a large cross section of vegetables.

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