Gardening Tips > April > ‘How to’? Create an Instant Vegetable Garden

‘How to’? Create an Instant Vegetable Garden

If you planned to get growing this year but haven’t found the time to sow your vegetable seeds,  not to worry! It’s not too late, instead, you can purchase a ready-grown plant from mid-April. These can be planted straight into the ground or a container (once the threat of frost has passed) to create an instant vegetable garden.  They will need regular watering, weeding, and feeding to ensure they produce the best crop.

What shall I grow?

Choose vegetables you regularly buy at the supermarket or why not try something different?

If you’re short of space in the garden, some vegetables can be grown in pots. We’d recommend aubergine, beetroot, cucumbers, herbs, lettuce (cut and come again), pea shoots, peppers, potatoes, strawberries, or tomatoes.

 


Easy starters

If you are a novice,  start with something easy like tomato plants or lettuce.

Grafted tomato plant

Tomato Plant (Grafted)

Tomatoes are a very popular choice for beginner growers. Read our ‘How to’? Grow your Own Tomatoes guide to help decide which variety to grow and find advice on caring for the plants to ensure you get a good healthy crop.


Cut 'n' Come Again Lettuce

Cut-and-Come Again Lettuce

What makes up a bag of supermarket salad is typically referred to as ‘cut-and-come again’. Larger leaves are harvested by cutting them out, allowing the smaller leaves to grow for a second crop. As cut-and-come-again crops are designed to be eaten while the plants are small, they are the perfect crops to grow in containers, or a VegTrug, where space is at a premium.

In fact, the clever VegTrugs allow you to grow a wide range of salad crops, as well as herbs, vegetables, and strawberries in really small spaces like balconies and patios. They are perfectly designed for an easy working height, so no more bending or kneeling!

  1. When leaves are of an appetising size, use scissors to snip off a few from each plant at 2.5cm (1in) from the base. Avoid damaging the central growing point of the plant and allow the remaining leaves to grow on.
  2. Water regularly to help support the production of new leaves
  3. Each sowing should give you three or four cuts before the plants are exhausted and lose their flavour.

Carrots

Carrots

Carrots are very easy to grow and can be grown in containers as they take up little room. Sow regular batches for cropping from early summer through to autumn.

They don’t need watering as they’re drought-resistant but soak if they’re going through a dry spell.

Weed regularly but be careful not to crush the foliage as the smell can attract carrot fly.


Other vegetables to try

French Beans

French Beans

If you’re planting climbing French beans then these need support (bamboo canes are very useful).

When are they ready to harvest? If they snap easily and before the beans can be seen through the pod itself.

Top tip: If picked regularly, dwarf and climbing French beans will crop for several weeks.


Brussel Sprouts

Brussel Sprouts

Sprouts are hardy plants so will grow in most areas but will need to be staked in exposed areas to prevent blowing over.

Soil should be very fertile with plenty of garden compost and well-rotted manure.

Top tip: Pick your sprouts from the bottom as this is where they ripen first, then work your way upwards. Make sure to remove yellow leaves as they can cause disease and restrict airflow.


Onions

Onions

Regular hand weeding is important because onions do not like competition! Make sure the onions are kept watered but don’t overwater as this can lead to downy mildew.

When are they ready to harvest? Pull up onions as soon as they’re big enough to use – leaves will droop and turn brown when they’ve stopped growing. Loosen the soil around the onions and lift them out of the soil.

Top tip: Leave your onions to dry before storing.


Pepper/Chilli

Pepper/Chilli

Chillies need a sheltered, sunny spot and support if you have tall or top-heavy plants.

Water regularly and feed every two weeks until the fruits have all been harvested.

When are they ready to harvest? Chillies can be harvested as and when they ripen to encourage the plant to produce more crops. You can cut them off the plant with scissors or a sharp knife whether they’re green or red.

Great for stir fries or adding that extra heat in your cooking.

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