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Fifteen tips for novice vegetable growers (… and one more for good measure!) !

by!!Laila Noort & Bridget Elahcene!!

http://sowandso.com!!! cover design by Lotte Middelkoop!!

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Introduction If you have just caught the “grow your own” bug and have no idea where to start, if you never knew a tomato comes from a tiny yellow flower and are not sure what you’ll need to grow your own, then don't despair - we have fifteen tips to help you get started. !!These valuable tips come from our own personal experience …and mistakes!!!

� !!Yes, growing your own will take up some of your time, but it has been proven that gardening is really good as a stress reliever so you will kill the proverbial two birds with one stone: food to put on the table and peace of mind. !!Yes, growing your own is good for your health in more ways than one, particularly if you grow organically - which of course you will do because using GMO seeds, chemical fertilizers and pest control is a very bad idea. There are a lot more vitamins, minerals and flavour in organic fruit and veg because they are grown in their proper season and at their own pace. !!You’ll never taste a sweeter strawberry and lettuce will never taste like a supermarket lettuce ever again. And then of course there’s all the fresh air and exercise that growing your own provides!!!Yes, you can save money by growing your own. Especially when you sow seeds. Seed packs usually have more then enough inside for one or even two seasons. Get a good deal on potting soil or compost at the beginning of the growing season (for example buy two and get one free), buy some plastic modules, which you can re-use and if you grow in small spaces some pots or grow bags. Go to this link to read more about five easy vegetables to grow and save money. !!Ok, here we go!!!

1. Grow the vegetables you like !

What’s the point in growing food you don’t like to eat? !!Then again, it’s always good to try new things. Maybe, for example, you didn’t like Brussels sprouts as a child? Many children don’t. The slightly bitter taste can be a bit off putting. However, Brussels sprouts are a wonderful must grow winter vegetable so I urge you to give them another chance.!!Try cooking them differently, for example lightly boiled in apple juice and finished with slices of apple, or go spicy with curry and chillies! !!

� !!Growing your own vegetables can also mean a more creative approach in the kitchen. You can choose to grow vegetables that you rarely see in supermarkets and grocery stores such as Chard – something you need to harvest and cook right away, otherwise the leaves go limp.!!This is why commercial growers are not generally interested.!!Or how about growing vegetables that are normally expensive, such as artichokes or asparagus. Whatever you decide, you should grow food you (and your family) enjoy, otherwise you end up giving away to friends and relatives most of the produce you have worked so hard to grow. !!They might really love you for it but it won’t bring any food to your table and growing your own will suddenly become an expensive hobby instead of a whole new lifestyle for yourself.!!!!

2. Grow from seed !It’s cheaper to grow your vegetables from seed rather than buying young plants at a garden centre. One seed pack can contain hundreds of seeds for a long growing season …and probably the next growing season as well. !!

� !Another advantage of using seeds is that you can choose from a wider range of varieties whereas the garden centre might only have two or three.!!You can also swap seeds with other growers allowing you to try the ones they’ve had success with or are really enjoy growing. Some varieties will do better in your garden than others and if you grow from seed you can choose the best variety for you and your garden. !!

Growing from seed gives you the opportunity to see the fascinating changes a plant goes through from tiny

seed to delicate seedling and then on to full grown plant. Also, what you grow from seed will be stronger and less susceptible to pests. !!Importantly, buy organic seeds so you can be sure you won’t be using GMO seeds from monstrous seed companies that are trying to dominate the food industry. !!If however you can’t or don’t want to put the time or the effort into growing your vegetables from

seed then you should get try to get your seedlings from a reputable nursery. !!!

You can also visit your local farmers market. Most of the time someone will be selling seedlings that they have grown from seed, which is the next best thing. !!(Victoriana Nursery Gardens in the UK are kindly offering a 10% discount across their full range which includes seeds, fruit, vegetables, herbs, ornamentals, gardening equipment and gifts - just use the discount code SOWNSO)!

3. Grow with the seasons and the climate in which you live

!To maximise success when growing your own it’s important, even essential to grow with the seasons. !!It’s difficult, expensive, not to mention hard graft to grow tomatoes in December, for example! Tomatoes need light and warmth to grow which is why the commercial greenhouses’ lights are on day and night - a costly process to try and mimic at home.!!Instead you can grow your tomatoes during the “right” season and then preserve as much as you can and need for the winter months. !!You might need to be a little bit more creative in the kitchen when it comes to using only seasonal vegetables, so how about trying dishes you’ve never dreamed of creating before. May we suggest kale and mushroom lasagne for example?!

Here’s a list on Which vegetables to grow and .....when! !Seasonal growing and the climate you live in go hand in hand. It determines

the growing conditions you face and which vegetables you’d be best growing where you live. !!!Of course there are ways to “cheat” a bit by using polytunnels and greenhouses but overall it’s important to work with the elements rather than against them.!!It is possible to grow year round vegetables in your garden but you really need to grow with the seasons, have a good gardening plan and choose the right varieties.!

4. Do not sow or plant out too soon !

The instructions on your seed packs describing when to sow are a suggestion only and don’t always apply to your climate or your garden. !!For example, even if you live in a temperate climate, it’s possible to have very cold nights, maybe even a light frost as late as mid May. Nights like that can seriously damage or even kill your fragile seedlings, which will result in you having to start all over again. Or maybe your garden is more exposed to the elements where rain and strong wind are likely to knock over your seedlings. !!Talk to other vegetable growers in your area and learn from their experience, they are likely to know exactly when and what to sow.!!With dreams of bountiful harvests, it may be hard for you hold back, but take our advice and do so because by waiting, your seedlings will stand more chance of surviving. Hasty sowing too early in the year all too often leads to failure and disappointment.!!A good tip is to always wait until your seedlings have produced a 3rd leaf and a good rooting system before planting out. !!There are however a few exceptions. When growing tomatoes, peppers and other sun loving vegetables, it is advisable to follow the instructions on the seed pack because they need a longer growing season in order to produce fruits.!!If you start to sow these kind of seeds later than the pack states, say in May, you will probably end up at the end of the season with unripe fruit that hasn’t had a chance to ripen because the days will be getting shorter, and there will no longer be enough light and warmth.!!Of course, the same conditions are necessary for the seeds to germinate but sadly most of us do not have too much warmth or light in February.! !Therefore we strongly suggest you invest in a heated propagator. It works brilliantly and you won’t regret the initial outlay one bit. Get yourself some

seed compost, place the propagator near a window, plug it in and hey, presto. !

Propagators don’t have to be very expensive and do not use too much electricity. Germinating even trickier seeds like Aubergine or chilli peppers is virtually guaranteed, depending on the quality and age of the seeds.!!

5. Sow in modules to identify your plants !

As a novice gardener, it’s a good idea to start your vegetables off in modules. If you sow directly into the soil you might not recognise the seedlings and could even mistake them for weeds!!!It’s amazing to watch a seed grow into a plant. It is something you should familiarise yourself with when you start to grow your own. You will learn to identify the different kinds of vegetables just by looking at the seedlings and observe how they unfold into plants. !

Behind the bright yellow female courgette flowers appears a cigar shaped vegetable …a tiny yellow tomato flower loses its petals to reveal a little green fruit …in the arm pits of the leaves attached to the stem, Brussels sprouts will grow …and so on and so forth.!!Every plant has its own unique way of growing and the only way to understand how they work is by watching the process. !!

6. Don't sow all at once !Okay, so you have your seed packs at the ready and you see all these tiny little seeds and you think to yourself - a few more, just a few more…!!Weeks later you have trays full of seedlings and no space to put them. You end up giving most of the seedlings away if you are lucky enough to find other beginner growers or you cram them in the soil not wanting to waste (see tip 8).!

Some vegetables such as lettuce grow really fast. You can sow a few seeds and as soon as they have become seedlings and are ready to be planted out, you can sow some more. That way you will have a continuous supply of lettuces and rather than a glut. The same applies to vegetables like radishes and carrots.!

7. Use cloches, fleece, a greenhouse… !

The last few years spring has been somewhat erratic when it comes to weather patterns. Extreme cold, long winters and cold, wet springs. However when the days start to lengthen, the growing season has started. !!To help your seedlings survive a cold, wet spring, there are a few things you can use:!!!

Cloches!!Plastic or glass dome shaped covers that you place over the seedlings. Cloches are easily made yourself from empty water bottles.!

!Just cut off the bottom of the bottle and place the bottle over the seedling. Remove the lid so moisture can escape out of the top.!!!Horticultural fleece !!A white fabric that can be bought at a garden centre, which you can place over your seedlings.!! The warmth is kept inside but light and moisture is still allowed to filter through.!!However, ensure the fleece doesn’t touch your seedlings when there is still a chance of frost because parts of the leaves that make contact with the fleece will still get damaged.!!!

And last but not least… Greenhouses and Polytunnels!!They come in all shapes and sizes. When you start off growing your own and if you have the space, then we recommend you get yourself at least a mini greenhouse.!!They’re not expensive and come equipped with shelves and a plastic cover with a zip. To see an example, just click on this link. !It is important to open the greenhouse or polytunnel in the morning and close it again as soon as the sun is setting.!!They need ventilation to prevent fungal infection on your plants. Leaving the doors open during the day also allows pollinators to visit your flowering plants. !!Make sure your greenhouse catches as much sunlight as possible. A good idea is to use the mini greenhouse to start off your seedlings and later on move your sun loving plants such as tomatoes and peppers into the main greenhouse to continue growing.!!Tomatoes don’t like water on their leaves so if you live in a temperate climate they will thrive in a greenhouse rather than outdoors in all weathers!!

At Sow and So Belgium we’re lucky to have enough space to opt for a bigger polytunnel.

8. Companion planting!!Vegetables can be placed into different families:! !Legumes such as Broad Beans, Runner Beans, French Beans, Peas and any other beans.!!Brassicas such as Cabbages, Brussels sprouts, Kale, Sprouting Broccoli, Cauliflower, Swedes, Turnips and Radishes.!!Roots and Onions such as Carrots, Beetroot, Celery, Celeriac, Parsnips Garlic, Leeks, Onions, Shallots, Spring onions,!!And the rest such as Cucumbers, Courgette, Gherkins, Squash, pumpkin!Salad Leaves, Fennel, Spinach and similar. !!It’s logical that vegetables in the same family do well when planted together but there are some exceptions where vegetables in one group do well with those from another group, for example you can grow tomatoes with onions and garlic. !

However, it can also go horribly wrong when you plant different kinds of vegetables together in one bed, one kind can maybe take all the nutrients away from the other kind.!!To be on the safe side we suggest you play safe, at least to begin with, and stick to planting plants together from the same family group.!!You can also check this guide on companion planting. !!

9. Give your plants some space !Seed packages often come with hundreds, sometimes thousands of seeds. You may be tempted to sow too many in one go and not wanting to be wasteful, you plant everything in the dedicated veg bed. This is not a good idea. You will either end up with small, weak plants that have to fight with each other for light, moisture and nutrients. !!When you plant them out, your tiny seedlings look ridiculously small in that big veg bed but fret not, they won't stay that way for long. Stick to what's on the seed pack and always follow the planting out instructions. !!Little seedlings grow larger and most of the time a lot larger than you might think. Instead of sowing a lot in one go, it’s better to sow a few now and some more a few weeks later. Plants that have room to grow will thrive and consequently be more productive and surely that’s what it’s all about.!

10.Crop rotation !Your soil is the most important aspect of growing your own. The quality depends entirely on what kind of soil you have and where you live. You may have sandy soil, clay soil, loamy soil or limey soil. Some vegetables need a lot of nitrogen and some need extra nitrogen added to the soil. For this reason you should rotate your crops every growing season. !!The best thing to do is work out a four year rotation schedule. Go back to your vegetable family groups as mentioned in Tip 7 - companion planting and use these groups to rotate your vegetables. Make sure that when the four years are up you end up with the vegetables in the beds that you started with four years before. !!By rotating your crops, the soil will not be depleted of its nutrients and minerals and your growing vegetables will get what they need. If your garden is small or you have a balcony and you want to grow in containers then you will have to use clean compost and potting soil each time you grow something new. !!

11.Watering !You don’t need telling that plants need water in order to grow. Basically, plants need soil, sunlight and water and after that come nutrients, insect protection and staking.!!One of the first things you must do, as a gardener and vegetable grower is to collect rainwater – not only is it free, it’s also better for the environment.!!Using tap water in the garden is extravagant not to mention expensive and wasteful. There are many, many fantastic solutions out there to harvest rainwater and there are a lot of DIY ideas to be found on the Internet so there’s no excuse not to!!!At Sow and So we have an old wine barrel connected to the roof of the veranda and underground water tanks connected to the sheds. !!The best time to water your plants is during the early morning. This way plants will have enough water to get them through a sunny day and slugs won't reap the benefits of moist conditions when you water at night. If you use a watering can then try to apply the water to the soil at the base of the plant. !!It is better to water a lot at once rather than little and often. However, some vegetables such as radishes tend to bolt when they are given too much water. !!So, as with everything in gardening there is a fine line between too much and not enough. You just need to try it out and see how it goes. Gardening is not an exact science, something that can make it frustrating at times but also very rewarding and exciting.

12.Weed control !Weeds are inevitable; they grow cheek by jowl with your vegetables and given half a chance, vigorously so. That’s why you need to remove them. Vegetable plants do not like to compete for nutrients in the soil and nor do they like competing for space. Regular weeding is best to avoid a build up of weeds that will crowd out your vegetables. !!Please DO NOT use chemical weed control materials like Round Up. They are harmful to your soil, the vegetables you are growing and ultimately your health as well as that of other people and animals. !!There are other ways to control weeds.!!For one…pull them out! See it as a time to relax. As one neighbour always tells me, weeding and caring for her vegetable garden relaxes her after a long day at school as a teacher. It gives her some peace and quiet and time to reflect. Weeding also gives you the opportunity to check on your vegetables while cleaning up around them. !!Then there is the use of mulch, which suppresses weeds and helps the bed to retain moisture. Organic materials you can use to mulch are straw, dried grass clippings, shredded leaves and newspaper. !!As mentioned earlier, weeds can grow vigorously and are real survivors. When removing for example a dandelion you must make sure to get the whole root because otherwise the dandelion will grow back again. Getting the whole root out is not as easy as you might think, these plants are determined to stay and will not go without a fight. It is a good idea to grow your seedlings from seeds so you can identify which ones are seedlings and which ones are the weeds. !!However, don’t dismiss all weeds as something horribly bad. Some are even edible, so before disposing of them consider whether you might want to use them in the kitchen! !!

How about this lovely recipe for Dandelion Marmalade or yummy spicy Chickweed Pakoras?

13.Fertilise !Once the plants start to flower they do with a bit extra nourishment. !!There are many fertilisers you can buy as long as you buy something organic! Using non-organic fertiliser is a bad idea; the harmful chemicals will enter the soil and be retained by the vegetables. These same vegetables are eaten by you, and the chemicals will enter and stay in your body.!!

A cheaper and more sustainable way to feed your plants is to make your own by ‘brewing’ nettle or comfrey tea.!!Nettles make strong foliage and comfrey helps the fruit. It’s very easy to make either. Pick some nettles or comfrey, place it in an old watering can with a little bit of water and press down the leaves with a heavy object such as large stone. Leave to decompose and ferment for a few weeks.!!The resulting liquid produced will smell horrible so make sure you keep it as far away from the house as possible! Put some of the liquid diluted with (rain) water in another watering can and feed your plants accordingly.!!Make sure you don’t get any of the liquid on your hands though because the stench will get into your skin...!!Apply this liquid feed once a week. As

well as comfrey and nettle tea you can also make liquid fertiliser out of chicken manure and here’s how.!

14.Use good compost !We’ve said it before but we’ll say it again, growing your own starts with good soil and to maintain good soil you need to good compost, preferably organic. !!Before the growing season starts, you can order compost online and get it delivered (check locally). Sometimes even your local council might give away a few sacks of compost that they’ve produced from the green and brown garden waste that they collect from residents in the local area. However, be warned, even though this sounds like a good deal it often isn’t. Any pesticides and chemical fertilisers your neighbours have used will be embedded in that

compost and no amount of heat treatment that the council does to eradicate disease will remove it.!!To be certain you have good quality compost, why not make it yourself?!!Compost bins come in all shapes and sizes or you can build your own from old pallets. Making good compost is all about using the right components. You need an equal amount of green and brown waste, ventilation and some kind of cover to keep the moisture in – a piece of old carpet works well. !!However, there are rules about what you can and can’t compost; here’s a comprehensive list of the dos and don’ts of composting. !

If you are you gardening on a balcony or have a small garden then getting a worm farm is a really good idea. Not only will the worms munch away your garden waste and your kitchen scraps, they will also eat cooked food scraps - providing it is not too spicy!!!Cooked food will attract rats when you put it in an conventional outdoor compost bin so getting a worm farm is very effective. As well as first class compost, you will also be able to harvest a liquid (it’s actually worm pee apparently) that can be used as a fertiliser. !!

15.What to grow your vegetables in !

“Everyone can grow something somewhere”. !- Laila Noort!!

Whether you have a balcony or windowsill, a patio or a garden, the opportunities to grow at least some of your own vegetables are there for the taking. There are many smart solutions to ensure you can grow in even in the tiniest of places. Take for example Window Farms, a wonderful concept for growing some of your own vegetables and herbs using plastic bottles and some plumbing materials.!!Several vegetables are easy to grow in containers as well as pots. Check the seed packs on how large the vegetables will grow and get a container appropriate to the size of the plant. Containers or pots do not have to be expensive, you can use recycled materials or go to your local flea market and find something unusual to grow your plant in. There are many great ideas to be found on Pinterest as well. We love to be thrifty at SowandSo and use as many recycled materials as possible.!!You can check out our boards on Pinterest for some great ideas. !!

�Plants in containers dry out quickly so you need to water generously and regularly – every other day during the growing season. Also, make sure to have holes in the bottom of the containers for drainage. Use good potting soil/compost but be sure to fertilise your vegetable plants as soon as they start to produce because plants in containers will use up the nutrients and minerals in the soil quicker than plants planted in open ground.!!Make the most of growing in containers by inter planting different varieties. For example, place a few basil plants around the base of your tomatoes.!!

Reach for the sky and grow your vegetables and herbs vertically. If space is at a premium then don’t waste it and get creative! Commerce has jumped at this new way of gardening and there are many solutions you can buy, such as these grow bags that you can hang anywhere.!!For people who like DIY projects there are different growing systems you can create to grow vertically, with the help of pallets for example. Pinterest is full of witty and clever ideas to make the most of the space you have to grow your own vegetables (join us there). !

If you are lucky enough to have a garden then you can choose to make vegetable beds, which makes crop rotation easier.!!A good and handy solution is to use raised beds. Your vegetables will be accessible, your soil will stay loose since you do not have to step on it, compost is easily added and the walkways around the raised beds will stay clean. !!Basically you can grow herbs and vegetables anywhere and in anything as long as you make sure there is sufficient drainage. Use good soil or compost and do not cramp the vegetables and herbs that you are growing.!Oh and let’s not forget light, preferably from the sun. !

16.Pest control !Slugs!First of all there are slugs. These slimy creatures can wreak havoc on your vegetables and are cursed, feared and much talked about by gardeners all over the world. As soon as spring starts, baby slugs and their parents will appear, all with a ferocious appetite. In one night they can devour leaf after leaf until there is nothing left except the odd tiny stem here and there, or even nothing at all.!!They thrive in damp, cool conditions so mainly come out at night. So what can you do to stop them from eating your precious veggie plants?!!The best you can do is apply multiple solutions, that way you can minimise the risk.

Tip number one is to water your plants in the morning. Slugs are night creatures and if you water at night the moisture will attract even more slugs. Another idea is to place plastic bottle rings around your seedlings (a cheap and easy solution that works like a charm). !

However as soon as your seedlings grow larger their lower leaves might start touching the soil giving the marauding slugs easy access to a feast. If this is the case, you could consider adding a few beer traps dotted around your vegetable beds …and then there’s always the laborious method of going out after dark with a torch and picking the pesky critters off your plants one by one.!!If you combine all these solutions you might save most of your plants but unfortunately none are foolproof and the battle against slugs must be fought day after day, year after year. !!Not to discourage you, but as well as slugs there are many more pests that can stand between you and your harvest. Most common are aphids, blackfly and caterpillars but there are others so as soon as you see your plants affected try to identify the pest and take the appropriate action.!!A good idea is if you buy your seedlings from a nursery to keep them separate for a few days to see if they are infected by any of these pests before you plant them out in your garden. !!Go around your garden on a daily and check for signs of infestations, the sooner you take action the better. !!

Here are some solutions for the most common pests: !!Aphids and Blackfly!!If you discover aphids or blackfly on your plants you can spray them with a mixture of organic soap or insecticidal soap and water or use a garlic or hot pepper spray. Also, try to attract beneficial insects (see tip 16) that will naturally predate on them.!!Caterpillars!!The white cabbage butterfly will lay eggs on your brassicas and before you know it caterpillars are munching happily on your cabbages. Place nets over your brassicas and inspect your plants daily to pick off any caterpillars that might’ve slipped through the net (literally).!!Never get complacent, remember that caterpillars appear and grow at an alarming rate …and all they do is eat! !

Pests, just like the weather are part of gardening. Endeavour to work with nature instead against it but please do not use any chemical sprays to kill pests, we can't stress that enough. These chemicals are extremely harmful to the environment and ultimately to your health. When it comes to pest battles, remember that you’ll win some and loose some.!!Attract beneficial insects!!Meanwhile, there are many insects that you DO want around your vegetables.!!A ladybird can eat massive amounts of aphids while lots of insects will take good care of pollinating the flowers on your vegetable plants. They are all crucial if you want your growing venture to be a success. However, we need to make our garden attractive to these insects so they want to come and visit.

Tempt them in by planting flowers nearby. Flowers such as Calendula, Borage and Nasturtium provide a haven for insects and have an added bonus, they are edible! !

Next to these edible flowers you can grow many other varieties of flowers that will attract pollinating insects. We have a few suggestions here.!!Grow them from seed next year alongside your vegetables and not only will you reap the rewards of increased yields but also your garden will look natural and beautiful. Grow some cut flowers too and you can create a lovely bouquet to make your living room beautiful too.

� !Thank you for reading our first eBook. We hope it is of help. We hope it will enthuse you enough to start growing your own.!!Join us on our blog for continuous information and inspiration. And/or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest.!!If you have any questions or just want to chat, you can always reach us through any of these channels.!!Just remember:!!There’s nothing like growing your own food.