People create edible gardens for many reasons, including to save money on groceries, to introduce their children to healthy foods, and to beautify the yard. No matter what you are growing, it is important to remember some seasonal gardening tips.
To save water, you can use mulching as a way to reduce evaporation and to divide your plants according to their water requirements.
Spring:
Early spring is the best time to plant many vegetables and herbs. Your edible garden has a wide range of options, from underground root vegetables to vines that climb trees and bushy fruit. You can either grow your vegetables in raised bed or in an in-ground plot. Select a raised bed that gets six to eight direct hours of sunlight per day if you want to grow vegetables in it. Choose a location that is south-facing if you plan to plant an in-ground vegetable garden. Your plants will benefit from strong afternoon sunlight, while gardens facing east will get weaker morning sun.
Chives are a great addition to any garden. They are hardy and repel pests such as aphids or mites. This makes them an excellent companion for your garden vegetables. These plants are also used as a healthy and tasty garnish on eggs, sauces, pastas, and soups.
Another popular spring plant is the tomato. They are staples in many kitchens and love the warm weather. Easy to grow, they add colour to your meals. Grow heirloom tomato varieties for more flavour and variety. The more tomatoes you grow, the better, as they are rich in vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants.
Summer:
It is a rewarding experience to grow your own herbs, fruits, and vegetables. It’s a great way to discover new flavours in your food. It’s impossible to beat eating a fresh, delicious vegetable straight from the garden.
The summer is the perfect time to plant leafy greens such as lettuce or kale, either in containers or directly on the ground. You can also use them as underplantings for perennial flower borders. Select varieties with slow bolting that will not turn bitter when temperatures rise. Buttercrunch lettuce has a tender, crisp flavour. Mascara kale is a dark-leafed variety with dramatic leaves.
If you are growing your vegetables in containers or on the ground, make sure to provide them with rich soil. Also, water them regularly throughout the summer. You can also feed container plants with foliar fertilisers like fish emulsion, kelp, seaweed, or seaweed.
After the summer is over, take a stroll around your edible garden and remove any tired or dead plants. This will help prepare the soil for warm-season crops next year and create space for cool-season vegetables. Note what worked, what didn’t, and what you could do differently next season. Use Jobe’s organic garden products and fertilisers to protect your garden against the summer heat.
Fall:
It’s time to do some TLC on your edible garden as the summer winds down and fades. To provide nutrients for your fall vegetables, remove spent flowers and weeds. Add compost, worm casts, and organic plant food that slowly feeds the soil. Mulch conserves moisture in the soil and regulates temperature. This will keep your harvest warm as the days get cooler.
In the cooler fall temperatures, many root crops, leafy greens, and winter squash will do well. You can choose fast-growing vegetables like radishes and kale or something different like bulb fennel or kohlrabi. As long as they are protected with a cold frame or row cover, some hardy vegetables, such as carrots, cabbage, and broccoli, can be harvested up until the first frost.
While cleaning up your garden, note which plants you had success with and which ones you didn’t. Also, make a list of what you will do differently the following year. Store trellises and tomato cages in a covered space, and clean and tune up your equipment. It’s also a great time to add a layer of compost (either homemade or purchased) that will absorb and work into the soil during the rainy season. Don’t forget about winter weeds!
Winter:
Fresh vegetables can ease cabin fever and Seasonal Affective disorder. You can also enjoy the beauty and freshness of your garden in the colder months.
Winter vegetables are those that can survive frost, snow and ice. This means they should be planted as early as possible in the fall. Winter vegetables include leafy greens like collards, parsnips, Swiss chard, kale and Swiss chard, as well as root crops such as carrots.
Compost is one of the easiest ways to maintain your garden through the winter. Compost improves soil structure, which allows it to retain moisture and nutrients for plant growth. Compost breaks down over the winter and works into the soil to prepare it for spring planting.
Crop rotation is another important factor to consider. It not only keeps the soil nutrient-levels even, it also reduces the risk of disease. Keep an eye out during winter for pests and diseases in your garden. Take immediate action to stop their spread. There are many ways to deal with any pests or diseases that you may encounter without using chemical sprays.
